I-NRLF 


B    M    SQL 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA, 

RECEIVED    BY    EXCHANGE 

Class 


AMERICANA  GERMANIGA 

NEW  SERIES 

MONOGRAPHS  DEVOTED  TO  THE  COMPARATIVE 
STUDY  OF  THE 

Literary,  Linguistic  and  Other  Cultural  Relations 

OF 

Germany  and  America 


EDITOR 

MARION  DEXTER  LEARNED 

University  of  Pennsylvania 


\ 


AMERICANA  GERMANICA 

NEW  SERIES 

1 .  Translations  of  German  Poetry  in  American 

Magazines  1741-1810.  By  Edward  Ziegler 
Davis,  Ph.  D.  5  p.l.  229  pp.  Price  .  .  $1.65 

2.  The     Harmony    Society.       A     Chapter    in 

German  American  Culture  History.  By 
John  Archibald  Bole,  Ph.  D.  3  p.l.  176 
pp.  30  Illustrations.  Price $1*50 

3.  Friedrich  Schiller  in  America.     A  Contribu 

tion  to  the  Literature  of  the  Poet's 
Centenary,  1905.  By  Ellwood  Comly 
Parry,  Ph.  D.  i  p.l.  116  pp.  Price  .  $1.25 

4.  The    Influence   of  Salomon    Gessner    Upon 

English    Literature.     By   Bertha    Reed. 

i  p.l.     n8pp.     Price $1.25 

5.  7 he  German  Settlement  Society  of  Philadel 

phia  and  its   Colony,   Hermann,  Missouri. 

By  William  G.  Bek.      Pp.  xi,  182.     Price  $1.50 

6.  Philipp  WaldecK  s  Diary  of  the    American 

Revolution.  With  Introduction  and  Pho 
tographic  Reproductions.  By  M.  D. 
Learned.  168  pp.  Price  $1.50 

7.  Schwcnkfelder  Hymnology  and  the  Sources 

of  the  First  Schwenkfelder  Hymn-Book 
Printed  in  America.  With  Photographic 
Reproductions.  By  Allen  Anders  Seipt, 
Ph.D.  1 12  pp.  Price $2.00 


Itfautfy!  unD 

<SS  t  f  ft  <>  t+ 

<•$&  I  v  V  v  V/ 

^JSA8£S*J£ 6e?  5«  «cfonmi 


ar 

3€fu  «W|li  6.1  an/e$o  in  Uf&una 
gdrefcn: 


UKD  CSioubertf 


rtVk1  • 

9)?tt  einem'g&ecaewfcmfi  bcc  ^i 

uno  orepen 


affo  jufttuuntn 

Sura  2obe  unt  Mfamen 


TITLK  I*A<.;K  or  THE  FIRST  SCHWENKFELDER  HYMN-BOOK  PRINTED  IN  AMERICA. 


AMERICANA   GERMANICA 


SCHWENKFELDER  HYMNOLOGY 


AND 


THE  SOURCES 


OF  THE 


FIRST  SCHWENKFELDER  HYMN-BOOK 
PRINTED  IN  AMERICA 


ALLEN  ANDERS  SEIPT,  A.  M.,  Ph.  D. 

Member  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania 
Formerly  Instructor  in  German,  Ohio  Wesley  an  University 


AMERICANA  GERMANICA  PRESS 

PHILADELPHIA 
1909 


V 


COPYRIGHTED  BY   ALLEN  ANDERS  SEIPT 
1909 


THESIS 


PRESENTED  TO   THE   FACULTY   OF  THE  GRADUATE  SCHOOL   OF 

THE   UNIVERSITY  OF   PENNSYLVANIA   IN   PARTIAL 

FULFILLMENT  OF  THE   REQUIREMENTS 

FOR  THE  DEGREE  OF  DOCTOR 

OF   PHILOSOPHY,    1906 

BY 

ALLEN  ANDERS  SEIPT 


TO 

MY   MOTHER 

IN 
GRATEFUL  VENERATION 


PREFACE. 

THIS  work  is  a  contribution  to  a  better  knowledge  of  the 
activity  of  the  Schwenkfelders  in  the  writing  and  compiling  of 
hymns,  both  in  Europe  and  also  in  America.  It  is  hoped  that  it 
will  help  to  rescue  from  obscurity  some  of  the  worthy  pioneers 
whose  services  in  this  field  have  long  waited  for  acknowledg 
ment.  To  students  of  the  life  of  the  German  settlers  in  America, 
during  the  colonial  period,  it  should  prove  a  welcome  side-light. 

An  altogether  satisfactory  explanation  of  both  the  character 
and  the  quantity  of  the  religious  poetry  written  by  the  early 
Schwenkfelders  is  furnished  by  Koch.  It  runs  thus:  "They 
wrere  wholly  devoted  to  a  deep  susceptibility  of  the  grace  of  God, 
intent  upon  this,  in  order  that  they  might  the  better  in  faith 
apprehend  the  inner  working  of  grace.  With  such  spiritual  sen 
sibility,  and  being  perpetually  the  victims  of  oppression,  they  had 
so  much  the  greater  occasion  for  communion  with  God  and  for 
the  pouring  out  of  their  hearts  before  Him  in  prayer  and  song. 
Hence  it  was,  that  a  distinct  Schwenkfeldian  type  of  religious 
poetry  developed,  quite  extensive  and  not  to  be  undervalued  in  its 
importance." 

Public  acknowledgment  is  due  the  following  for  having 
rendered  assistance  during  the  preparation  of  this  work :  Marion 
D.  Learned,  Ph.  D.,  L.  H.  D.,  Professor  of  German  at  the  Uni 
versity  of  Pennsylvania,  for  directing  the  author's  research ;  Prof. 
D.  B.  Shumway,  Ph.  D.,  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania;  Hon. 
S.  W.  Pennypacker,  LL.  D.,  Former  Governor  of  Pennsylvania, 
for  the  use  of  important  sources;  M.  G.  Brumbaugh,  Ph.  D.,  LL. 
D.,  Superintendent  of  Schools,  Philadelphia;  Prof.  Morris  Jas- 
trow,  Jr.,  Ph.  D. ;  Dr.  John  W.  Jordan,  Librarian,  and  Mr. 
Ernest  SpofTord,  Assistant  Librarian,  of  the  Historical  Society 
of  Pennsylvania;  Mr.  Thomas  L.  Montgomery,  Librarian,  Mr. 
Norman  D.  Gray,  Assistant  Librarian,  and  Mr.  Luther  Kelker, 
Archivist,  of  the  State  Library,  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania;  C.  S. 

(vii) 


viii  PREFACE 

Thayer,  Ph.  D.,  Librarian  of  Hartford  Theological  Seminary, 
Hartford,  Connecticut;  Mr.  George  Maurice  Abbot,  Librarian  of 
the  Library  Company  of  Philadelphia,  and  Mr.  B.  Samuel,  of  the 
Ridgway  Branch;  Pres.  Robert  Ellis  Thompson,  D.  D.,  Central 
High  School,  Philadelphia;  Rev.  J.  H.  Dubbs,  D.  D.,  LL.  D., 
Franklin  and  Marshall  College,  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania;  Rev. 
C.  D.  Hartranft,  D.  D.,  Wolfenbiittel,  Germany;  Hon.  C.  Hey- 
drick,  Franklin,  Pennsylvania;  Howard  Wiegner  Kriebel,  Lftitz, 
Pennsylvania;  Rev.  O.  S.  Kriebel,  D.  D.,  Pennsburg,  Pennsyl 
vania;  Rev.  E.  E.  S.  Johnson,  Wolfenbuettel,  Germany;  Mrs. 
Susanna  Krauss  Heebner,  Worcester,  Pennsylvania;  Samuel  A. 
Anders,  Professor  of  German,  Temple  University,  Philadelphia; 
and  Irene  Schumo  Seipt,  of  Philadelphia. 

THE  AUTHOR. 
PHILADELPHIA,  April  1909. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER         L — Introduction 1 1 

CHAPTER        II. — Descriptive  Bibliography 17 

CHAPTER  III. — The  Schwenkfelder  Hymn-Writers  of  the 

1 6th  and  I7th  Centuries 37 

CHAPTER  IV. — Hymns  Used  by  the  Schwenkfelders  Before 

1762  56 

CHAPTER  V. — Caspar  Weiss:  The  Originator  of  the 

Schwenkfelder  Hymn-Book 61 

CHAPTER  VI. — George  Weiss:  Writer  and  Compiler  of 

Hymns  74 

CHAPTER  VII. — Balthaser  Hoffmann,  Christopher  Hoff 
mann  and  Hans  Christoph  Huebner. .  .  83 

CHAPTER  VIII. — Christopher  Schultz  and  the  Printed 

Hymn-Book  96 

APPENDIX. — Bibliography    in 


v 

THE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

INTRODUCTION. 

UP  to  this  time,  the  American  field  of  Schwenkf elder  hymn 
ology  appears  to  have  been  permitted  to  lie  unworked  and  even 
uncleared ;  so  that  the  present  investigation  has  demanded  pioneer 
effort.  The  explanation  of  this  fact  can  readily  be  furnished. 
Until  recent  years,  the  sources  which  have  made  the  present  treat 
ise  possible  were  in  the  private  possession  of  numerous  individuals 
and  of  households  of  the  sect,  and  hence  were,  for  the  most  part, 
both  inaccessible  and  unknown  to  the  investigator.  However, 
patient  searching  has  brought  to  light  much  material  relating  to 
the  production,  transcribing,  compiling  and  editing  of  hymns  of 
Schwenkfelder  authorship — the  activity  of  the  Schwenkfelders  in 
the  writing  and  collecting  of  hymns  having  extended  from  the 
first  half  of  the  sixteenth  to  the  second  half  of  the  nineteenth  cen 
tury,  a  period  of  more  than  three  hundred  years.  This  material 
consists  chiefly  of  manuscript  sources  hitherto  unpublished,  and  is 
therefore  of  prime  importance  for  a  documentary  account  of  the 
hymnology  of  the  sect.  The  most  important  of  the  historical 
manuscripts  exploited  in  the  preparation  of  this  work  will  be  found 
printed  with  the  text — care  having  been  exercised  to  permit  no 
deviation  from  the  orthography  employed  by  the  chronicler. 
These  citations  are  in  most  cases  given  in  English  translation  also. 
The  specimen  hymns  printed  or  reprinted  are  provided  with  foot 
notes  explaining  dialectal  and  obsolete  forms.  The  illustrations 
will  be  found  to  include  photographic  reproductions  indicating 
those  manuscript  compilations  which  served  as  sources  for  the 
first  hymn-book  of  the  sect  printed  in  America. 

The  few  brief  notices  which  have  thus  far  appeared,  of  the 
activity  of  the  Schwenkfelders  in  the  writing  and  compiling  of 
hymns,  have  not  been  overlooked.  In  1882,  there  appeared  in  the 
Reformed  Quarterly  Reviezv  an  article  entitled  "Early  German 
Hymnology  of  Pennsylvania,"  which  contains  an  account  of  the 

(n) 


I2  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

Schwenkfclder  hymn-book  of  1762.!  In  1898,  the  Americana 
Gcrmanica  published  a  treatise  on  the  subject  of  German  hymn- 
ology  in  America,  in  which  the  writer  confines  his  account  of 
Schwenkfelder  hymn-writing  to  the  following  brief  mention:2 
"Other  sects,  such  as  the  Schwenkfelclers,  who  came  to  Pennsyl 
vania  in  1734,  may  be  passed  over  with  the  mere  mention.  The 
hymn-book  of  the  Schwenkf  elders,  known  as  the  Neu-eingerichte- 
tcs  Gcsangbnch,  left  Sattr's  press  in  1762;  it  contains  no  hymns 
written  in  this  country,  but  is  interesting  for  its  scholarly  preface 
and  excellent  arrangement." 

In  the  course  of  the  present  work,  however,  it  will  be  seen 
that  Schwenkfelder  hymnology  is  entitled  to  more  than  mere  men 
tion,  and  that  the  statement,  "it  contains  no  hymns  written  in  this 
country,"  is  certainly  without  foundation.  In  1904  appeared  the 
Schwenkf  elders  in  Pennsylvania,  a  historical  study  of  the 
Schwenkfelders  since  their  exodus  from  Saxony.3  This  contains 
a  partial  list  of  the  Schwenkfelder  hymn-writers  whose  hymns 
were  admitted  into  the  hymn-book  printed  in  1762.  But  all  these 
references  to  the  hymn-book  in  question  merely  suggest  that 
Schwenkfelder  hymnology  holds  a  place  in  the  hymnology  of  the 
Fatherland. 

The  larger  works  on  hymnology  have  also  been  consulted. 
In  Julian,1  but  two  Schwenkfelder  hymn-writers  receive  mention. 
They  are  Adam  Reissner  and  Sebastian  Franck.  Even  Daniel 
Sudermann  is  not  named.  Koch5  distinguishes  two  schools  of 
Schwenkfelder  hymn-writers,  namely,  that  of  the  Reformation 
period  and  a  post-Reformation  school.  He  treats  a  total  of  eight 
authors.  We  have  already  observed,  in  our  preface,  that  Koch 

The  article  was  written  by  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Dubbs,  D.D.,  LL  D      Since 
s  account  is  quoted  in  our  last  chapter 


in  Pcn^ania:  A 

JULIAN  :  A  Dictionary  of  Hymnology.     New  York,  1892. 
gart*  i866-i8^6CH  ''  Gcschlchtc  dcs  K"'^cnUeds  und  Kirchengesangs.     Stutt- 


INTRODUCTION  13 

recognizes  a  well-defined  Schwenkfeldian  type  of  hymn-writing 
and  cheerfully  concedes  to  it  a  raison  d'etre.  But  his  account  of 
the  Schwenkf elder  hymn-writers  terminates  with  1631,  the  year 
of  Sudermann's  death.  Wackernagel6  describes  very  fully  the 
Schwenkf  elder  hymns  of  the  period  which  he  treats,  but  he  dis 
cusses  only  the  writers  up  to  Sudermann  inclusive,  and  his  ac 
count  is  not  biographical.  Schneider's  monograph7  likewise  closes 
with  an  account  of  the  hymns  of  Daniel  Sudermann.  Indeed, 
both  Wackernagel  and  Koch  frankly  acknowledge  their  indebted 
ness  to  Schneider  for  much  of  their  information  concerning  the 
early  hymn-writers  of  the  school  of  Schwenkfeld. 

It  will  be  seen  thus,  that  none  of  these  authorities  approach 
es  the  period  with  which  the  present  treatise  is  particularly  con 
cerned.  It  is  the  purpose  of  this  monograph  (i)  to  present  a 
survey  of  the  entire  field  of  Schwenkf  elder  hymnology,  and  (2) 
to  submit  the  results  of  an  examination  of  certain  compilations  of 
hymns  extant  in  manuscript.  The  collections  in  question  are 
those  brought  to  America  by  the  Schwenkf  elders  in  1734,  to 
gether  with  the  rearrangements  and  transcriptions  of  them  produc 
ed  here.  Documentary  sources  have  been  employed  almost  exclu 
sively,  and  with  but  one  exception,  the  writer  has  enjoyed  the  use 
of  the  originals  of  the  several  hymn-collections  examined.  The 
hymn-book  issued  from  the  press  of  Christopher  Saur  has,  of 
course,  received  attention ;  but  no  minute  analysis  of  this  imprint 
has  been  attempted.  It  will  frequently  be  referred  to  as  the  "Saur 
edition."  The  second  and  third  editions  of  the  printed  hymnal 
are  merely  listed  in  our  Descriptive  Bibliography.  Each  is  es 
sentially  an  abridgment  of  the  edition  which  preceded  it. 

In  an  address  delivered  before  the  Pennsylvania-German 
Society  on  the  occasion  of  its  first  annual  meeting,  October  1891, 
Hon.  Samuel  W.  Pennypacker,  Former  Governor  of  Pennsyl- 


'PHILIPP  WACKERNAGEL:  Das  deutsche  Kirchenlied  von  den  aeltesten 
Zeiten  bis  zu  Anfang  des  ijten  Jahrhunderts.  5  vols.  Leipzig,  1864-1877. 

7  A.  F.  H.  SCHNEIDER:  Zur  Literatur  der  Schwenkf eldischen  Lieder- 
dichter  bis  Daniel  Sudermann.  Berlin,  1857. 


!4  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

vania,  made  the  following  reference  to  the  results  which  the 

Schwenkf elders  have  accomplished  in  the  transcribing  of  their 

own  literature:  "I  want  to  call  your  attention  to  another  sect, 

the  Schwenkfelders  who  came  to  Pennsylvania.     They  were  the 

followers  of  Caspar  Schwenkfeld  and  the  doctrines  taught  by  him 

were  almost  identical  with  those  taught  by  the  Quakers.     They 

came  in  1734.     Their  literature  was  extensive  and  interesting. 

It  is  reproduced  for  the  most  part  in  huge  folios  written  upon 

paper  made  at  the  Rittenhouse  paper-mill  on  the  Wissahickon,  the 

earliest  in  America.       These  volumes   sometimes   contained  a 

thousand  pages,  bound  in  stamped  leather  with  brass  corners  and 

brass   mounting.       Among   the    notable    facts    connected   with 

their  history    is  the  fact  that  they  prepared  a  written  description 

of  all  the  writings  of  Schwenkfeld  and  their  other  authors  and 

it  is  as  far  as  I  know  the  first  attempt  at  a  bibliography  in  this 

country." 

The  early  history  of  the  Schwenkfelders  furnishes  the  ex 
planation  of  this  extraordinary  activity  in  the  copying  of  both 
their  printed  works  as  well  as  unpublished  manuscripts.  Repeat 
edly,  the  literature  of  the  sect  was  proscribed  and  the  use  of  the 
press  forbidden  them,  so  that  for  the  preservation  of  the  works 
of  their  various  writers  they  were  dependent  upon  their  transcrib 
ers.  Of  this  activity,  the  collecting  and  copying  of  hymns  has 
always  been  a  considerable  part,  and  in  our  next  chapter  we  list 
bibliographically  the  numerous  larger  collections  of  hymns  which 
are  still  extant  in  manuscript  and  are  products  of  the  patient  toil 
of  Schwenkfelder  transcribers.  Furthermore,  we  shall  see  that 
some  of  the  hymn-writers  themselves  served  the  sect  as  copyists. 
Thus  Adam  Reissner  and  Daniel  Sudermann  compiled  large  folios 
of  hymns  written  by  their  own  hands.  A  century  later  Caspar 
Weiss  produced  a  compilation  of  hymns  in  two  volumes  in  manu 
script,  in  which  he  has  perpetuated  hymns  written  by  Adam 
Reissner,  Daniel  Sudermann,  Raimund  Weckher,  Valentin  Trill- 
er,  Antonius  Oelsner,  George  Heydrich,  Martin  John,  Jr.,  and 
other  Schwenkfelder  hymn-writers.  Again,  George  Weiss 


INTRODUCTION  15 

subjected  the  collection  of  Caspar  Weiss,  his  father,  to  a 
rearrangement  and  added  more  than  500  hymns  of  Schwenkf eld 
er  authorship.  It  is  also  noteworthy  that  this  activity  did  not 
cease  with  the  emigration  of  the  sect  from  the  Fatherland.  The 
present  writer  has  thus  far  examined  six  folios  besides  numerous 
quartos  and  a  great  variety  of  additional  collections  arranged  for 
church  use,  all  of  which  were  compiled  or  transcribed  in  America. 
The  extant  manuscript  hymn-books  arranged  for  household  use 
(Taegliche  Gesangbuecher)  are  also  numerous.  It  has  been  the 
writer's  good  fortune  to  unearth  a  number  of  important  collec 
tions  of  hymns  in  manuscript  and  it  is  not  unlikely  that  others 
exist  which  will  yet  be  discovered.  We  should,  therefore,  not 
lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  the  great  mass  of  transcriptions — of 
hymns,  of  sermons,  of  historical  matter  and  of  other  literature — 
produced  by  the  Schwenkfelders  in  America  represents  the  sur 
vival  of  the  laborious  work  of  transcribing  which  originated  in 
Europe  more  than  two  hundred  years  before,  when  printers  were 
forbidden  to  do  press-work  for  the  Schwenkfelders.  Necessity 
was  the  mother  of  the  device,  and  in  this  way  for  a  period  of 
more  than  two  centuries  preceding  the  emigration  to  America, 
copies  of  the  Schwenkfeld  prints  which  had  been  saved  from 
seizure  were  multiplied,  and  both  their  earlier  and  their  contem 
poraneous  literature  preserved. 

Investigation  has  revealed  the  further  fact  that  three  col 
lections  of  hymns  served  as  the  principal  manuscript  sources  of 
the  Schwenkf  elder  hymn-book  of  1762,  familiarly  known  as  the 
"Saur  edition."  The  collections  in  question  form  a  connected 
series,  beginning  with  the  compilation  of  Caspar  Weiss,  which 
was  completed  in  1709.  Hence,  the  first  Schwenkf  elder  hymn- 
book  printed  in  America  was  in  part  the  result  of  a  line  of  activity 
in  the  compiling  of  hymns,  which  began  at  the  very  opening  of 
the  i8th  century,  about  60  years  before.  The  additional  fact  has 
also  been  disclosed  that  this  continued  activity  is  marked  from 
its  beginning  to  its  close  by  a  well-defined  progression, — each 
compiler  after  the  originator,  having  operated  with  the  completed 


j6  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

work  of  his  predecessor  as  a  basis.  The  series  of  collections 
comprising  the  extent  of  this  activity  consists  therefore,  essentially 
of  four  compilations  of  hymns,  each  regularly  edited,  although 
the  first  three  collections  of  the  series  were  never  issued  in  print 
ed  form.  Moreover,  and  singularly  enough,  the  effort  represented 
by  this  activity  was  confined  to  four  families  of  the  sect :  Caspar 
Weiss  of  Harpersdorf,  in  Silesia,  and  the  Rev.  George  Weiss,  his 
son ;  the  Rev.  Balthaser  Hoffmann  and  his  son,  the  Rev.  Christo 
pher  Hoffmann;  Hans  Christoph  Huebner,  and  the  Rev.  Chris 
topher  Schultz.  With  the  exception  of  Caspar  Weiss,  who  died 
in  Silesia  before  the  emigration  to  Saxony,  all  were  immi 
grants  to  America.  George  Weiss,  Balthaser  Hoffmann  and 
Christopher  Schultz  were  writers  of  hymns.  And  not  only  to 
Rev.  Christopher  Schultz  as  editor,  but  to  each  one  of  these  com 
pilers  must  be  conceded  a  share  in  the  credit  for  the  ultimate  pro 
duct,  the  Nen-eingerichtetes  Gesangbuch  of  1762. 


CHAPTER  II. 
DESCRIPTIVE  BIBLIOGRAPHY.  1 

THIS  descriptive  bibliographical  list  includes  only  collections 
of  hymns,  manuscript  and  printed.  The  compiler  or  author  is  in 
every  instance  a  Schwenkfelder.  Early  German  religious  prints 
other  than  hymn-books  not  infrequently  contained  a  few  hymns ; 
and  a  number  of  hymns  of  Schwenkfelder  authorship  were  first 
published  separately  in  this  manner.  But  such  prints  are  not 
included  in  this  list.  Likewise,  collections  which  contain 
Schwenkfelder  hymns  but  are  not  Schwenkfelder  compilations 
are  excluded.  The  list  affords  a  survey  of  the  activity  of  the 
sect  in  the  writing  as  well  as  in  the  collecting  and  arranging  of 
hymns  for  devotional  use,  privately  and  in  their  meetings  for 
worship.  The  numbers  in  this  bibliography  marked  thus  (*) 
are  the  collections  in  folio  and  quarto  which  served  as  sources  for 
the  "Saur  edition,"  and  include  both  the  original  manuscripts  and 
the  transcriptions  of  them  which  are  known  to  exist.  All  titles 
are  reproduced  in  German,  with  their  original  orthography.  The 
description  of  all  the  numbers  in  the  list  is  given  in  English. 
Those  numbers  which  are  not  described  as  "manuscript"  are  col 
lections  which  have  been  issued  in  print. 

I.     1546. 

EIN  NEW  LIED  |  Auff  Sebastian  Coccius  |  Schulmaisters  zu 
Hall  Schmach-  |  buchlen,  die  er  wider  die  Herrlichait  |  Christi  hat 
geschriben.  |  Im  thon  |  O  das  ich  kiind  von  hertzen.  |  Oder  |  Ich 
stund  an  einem  morgen.  |  Raimund  Weckher.  |  1546. 

Octavo.  14  pages.  Contains  the  hymn:  Ein  vogel  ist  aussge- 
flogen.  The  hymn  consists  of  31  strophes  of  7  lines.  It  is  a  polemic 
in  defense  of  the  doctrine  of  Schwenkfeld.  Preceding  the  hymn  is 
an  "Exhortation  to  the  Reader"  in  rhymed  couplets.  (Royal  Li 
brary,  Dresden.) 


'Compare:    Schneider,  loco  citato,  pp.  12-18.     Wackernagel,  Vol.  I,  part 
II.    Koch,  Vol.  II. 

(17) 


j^  SCHVVENKFELDER    HYMNOLOGY 

II.      1565. 

EIN  Xi-w  LIF.D  |  Ausz  der  Histori  |  Eusebij  |  Von  den  zehen 
verfol-  |  gimgcn,  Vnd  zerstorung  des  |  Christenthumbs.  |  Mehr  j 
Ein  Lied  vom  Reich  des  Antichrists,  |  Vnd  von  plagen  vber  die 
argen  welt.  |  (4  lines)  |  A.  R.  |  (5  lines)  |  Getruckt  zu  Strasburg  | 
bey  Thiebolt  Berger. 

Octavo.    30  pages.    Contains  the  following  three  hymns : 
In  alten  gschichten  gschriben  staht, 
Nu  hort  mir  zu  in  meim  gedicht, 
Herr  Jhesu  Christe  starker  Gott. 

The  first  hymn  consists  of  34  strophes  of  13  lines.  The  second 
is  in  10  strophes  of  13  lines.  The  third  is  in  19  strophes  of  5  lines. 
Of  the  first  two,  Adam  Reissner  is  the  author.  The  third  is  prob 
ably  not  from  his  pen.  (Royal  Library,  Berlin.) 

HI.  1565- 

EIN  SCIION  LIED,  VON  DER  |  Ruten  vnd  Kinder  zucht.  Im  thon, 
|  Ich  stundt  an  einem  morgen.  |  Allen  Eltern  vnd  Kindern,  sher 
niitz  |  vnd  not,  in  disen  zeiten  zu  singen. 

Octavo.  7  pages.  Contains  the  hymn:  Ein  Liedlein  wil  ich 
dichtcn,  Zu  lob  der  Ruten  gut.  It  is  in  18  strophes  of  7  lines.  The 
sentiment  of  the  hymn  is  that  of  the  proverb:  "Spare  the  rod  and 
spoil  the  child."  The  author  is  Alexander  Heldt.  (Royal  Library, 
Berlin.) 

IV.  1570. 

EIN  SCIION  NEUW  LIED,  |  Von  der  tngent  vnnd  krafft  |  der 
Ruten,  zur  warnung  den  Eltern,  |  die  jhren  Kindern  den  zaum  zu  | 
king  lassrn.  vnd  sie  in  jrer  |  jugent  nicht  straffen.  |  (3  lines)  | 
Gedruckt  ;-u  Basel,  am  Fischmarckt,  durch  |  Daniel  vnd  Lienhart 
Ostein. 

Octavo.  0  pages.  A  new  edition  of  the  hymn  of  Alexander 
Heldt  on  the  training  of  children.  (Royal  Library,  Berlin.) 

V.  1587. 

GEISTLICIIE  LIEDER.  |  Daniel  Suderman.  |  Die  Kinder  diser 
Welt  sind  Kliiger  den  die  Kinder  des  |  liechts,  in  Irem  ge- 


DESCRIPTIVE  BIBLIOGRAPHY  19 

schlecht.  Luc.  XVI.  Aber,  Gott  forchten  |  ist  die  volkomne 
Weiszheit.  ECCL.  I.  Gott  forchten  ist  weit  |  vber  alles.  ECCL. 
XXV.  Gott  forchten,  vnd  vor  angen  haben  ist  weiszheit, 
vnd  vom  bosen  weichen,  ist  verstand.  JOB.  XXVIII.  |  Singend  ein 
lobgesang,  Lobend  Gott  vber  alle  seine  Werck,  |  Gebend  dem  Herrn 
Herrligkeit  vnd  eehr,  veriahend  sein  lob  mitt  |  euweren  lafftzen,  Ja 
mit  den  gsang  euwerer  lafftzen,  mit  den  |  Harpffen,  vnd  seitenspilen 
ECCL.  XXXIX.  Leerend  vnd  erma-  |  nend  euch  selbs  mit  gesangen 
vnd  geistlichen  liederen,  in  der  gnad,  |  vnd  singend  dem  herren  in 
euwerem  hertzen.  COL.  3.  |  Zu  Straszburg,  Im  Bruderhoff.  |  1587. 
Manuscript  in  folio.  Will  be  designated  as  Si  in  the  list  of 
Sudermann  collections  included  in  our  discussion  of  this  hymn- 
writer  in  the  next  chapter.  538  pages.  Chronologically,  this  is  the 
first  collection  of  Sudermann's  hymns.  The  author  is  also  the  com 
piler.  It  contains  a  number  of  his  very  earliest  compositions,  written 
in  the  years  1572  ff.  Every  hymn  is  furnished  with  corrections  sup 
plied  in  Sudermann's  own  hand  about  30  years  after  the  engrossing 
of  the  manuscript.  The  succession  of  poems  is  occasionally  inter 
rupted  by  passages  from  St.  Jerome,  St.  Chrysostom,  St.  Augustine 
and  other  Church  Fathers,  in  French  translation.  (Royal  Library, 

Berlin.) 

VI.    !596. 

TEGLICHS  GESANGBUCH.  |  Welches  Der  Gottsgelehrt  Aureli-  | 
us  Prudentius,  Consul  zu  Rom,  |  vor  Tausendt  Jaren  geschriben,  | 
Und  ieczt  verteuscht  worden.  |  Audi  anndere  newe  Lieder  auss 
Heiliger  |  schrifft  alien  Christglaubigen  zu  irem  |  Hayl  Dienstlich 
durch.  |  Adam  Reusner  |  Ephes :  V.  |  Jr  solt  erfiilt  werden  im  Gaist, 
mitt  Euch  selbs  |  Reden  inn  Psalmen,  Lobsangen  und  gaistlichen 
Lied-  |  ern,  Singen  vnnd  Psalliern  in  Ewernn  Hercz-  |  en,  Dem 
Herren  immer  Danckhsagen  iiber  |  alles  im  Namen  vnsers  Herren 
Jesu  Christi. 

Manuscript  in  folio.  734  pages.  This  is  a  compilation  consist 
ing  of  (i)  hymns  written  by  Adam  Reissner,  and  (2)  hymns  col 
lected  by  Reissner  from  other  Schwenkfelder  writers.  The  next 
number  in  this  series  has  many  hymns  in  common  with  this  manu 
script.  The  collection  comprises  six  distinct  sections,  with  a  sep 
arate  title-page  for  each  section.  The  titles  of  the  successive  sec 
tions  are  included  in  this  account.  The  first  section  comprises  Reiss- 


20  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

ner's  translations  of  the  Latin  hymns  of  Aurelitts  Prudentius.  Fol 
lowing  we  reproduce  the  title-page  of  the  second  section : 

NEUWE  GSANNG  |  in  Biiechern  Mosech  prophe-  |  ten  vnnd 
Psalmen  aus  Hay-  |  liger  Schrifft  verfaszt.  |  Zum  Erkandtnus 
vnnsers  llerrcn  IHESV  CHRISTI,  vnnd  jderman  |  zur  besse- 
rung  vnnd  zur  Selig-  |  kait  dienstlich.  |  Inn  gsanng  verfasst.  |  Durch. 
|  A:  R:  |  Die  gaistliche  gesang  eruordern  ein  glau-  |  big  Hercz. 
PROVERB  :  25 :  Wie  ein  Zer-  |  riszen  Klaid  im  tag  der  Kelte,  vnnd  | 
essich  vff  der  Creiden,  Also  ist  ei-  |  ner  Der  Psalmen  singt  mit  Ei-  j 
nem  Boszen  Herczenn. 

All  the  hymns  of  this  section  are  by  Adam  Reissner.  They 
include  many  of  his  metrical  versions  of  the  Psalms.  Following  is 
the  title  of  the  third  section: 

HEILIGE  GSANGG  Aus  DEM  |  Neuen  Testament  nach  dem  |  Text 
der  Evangelisten  vonn  der  Neu-  |  en  empfengkhnus  geburt,  wunder 
|  werckhen  Leiden  und  sterben  vnd  |  aufferstehung  des  Sohns  Gottes 
I  IHESV  CHRISTI.  |  A.  R. 

This  is  the  largest  of  the  six  divisions  of  the  collection.  Of 
most  of  the  hymns  of  this  section,  Adam  Reissner  is  only  the  col 
lector.  Of  a  few  he  is  also  the  author.  The  title  of  the  fourth 
section  follows: 

VON  ABENDMAL  |  DES  HERREN.  |  Vom  figiirlichen  Opfer 
Fest  PASCHA  |  vom  Opfer  Lamb  vnd  was  es  bedeutet  hab.  | 
Durch  |  A.R. 

Six  hymns  on  the  Lord's  Supper  and  the  Atonement.  The  first 
is  unquestionably  by  Reissner.  The  authorship  of  the  others  is  un 
certain.  Following  we  reproduce  in  part  the  fifth  title-page : 

GEISTLICHE  GSANG  |  Ausz  Hailiger  Geschrifft  |  Das  Christus 
bald  komen  werd  zurichten. 

MOSEH  SOPHONIAH 

DAVID  HOSEAH 

ESAIAII  BARVCH 

IEREMIAH  DANIEL 

HABACVK  MACABEER 

This  title-page  bears  the  date  1596.  This  is  also  the  date  of  the 
next  number  in  this  series.  This  section  contains  hymns  on  the 
Judgment.  The  brief  title  of  the  last  section  is  as  follows: 


DESCRIPTIVE  BIBLIOGRAPHY  21 

HERNACH  FOLGEN  GESANNG,  WIE  |  sich  ein  mensch  in  Ver- 
lichner  gnad  Christi  auf  sein  Zukonnfft  berai-  ten  mechte. 

This  part  of  the  collection  contains  chiefly  hymns  on  the  Second 
Coming  of  Christ.  The  orthography  of  this  manuscript  seems  to 
point  to  Strassburg.  It  contains  a  total  of  175  hymns.  Of  these, 
44  are  unquestionably,  and  10  others  possibly,  by  Adam  Reissner. 
All  the  hymns  of  this  collection  are  presumably  of  Schwenkfelder 
authorship.2  (Herzogliche  Bibliothek,  Wolfenbiittel.) 

VII.    1596. 

A :  PRVDENTII  DIVRNAL.  |  Taglichs  Gsangbuch  |  welches 
Prudentius  vor  Tausend  Jaren  |  beschrieben,  Auss  dem  Latein  | 
verteiitscht.  |  durch,  |  A:  Reiszner.  |  Durch  |  Daniel  Sudermann.  j 
Anno  1596,  |  zu  Strassburg  geschrieben,  |  vnnd  gemehret. 

Manuscript  in  folio.  572  pages.  In  this  collection  and  in  the 
collection  which  we  have  just  described,  most  of  the  hymns  by 
Adam  Reissner  have  been  preserved.  This  manuscript,  like  the  pre 
ceding,  contains  hymns  by  various  Schwenkfelder  writers  in  addition 
to  those  by  Reissner.  The  compiler  of  this  collection  was  the  dis 
tinguished  Schwenkfelder  and  prolific  hymn-writer  Daniel  Suder 
mann,  in  whose  hand  the  entire  manuscript  is  neatly  engrossed.  The 
first  division  of  the  volume  embraces  those  translations  of  the  Latin 
hymns  of  Prudentius  contained  in  the  preceding  number,  here  re 
arranged.  Then  a  new  title-page,  as  follows: 

PRVDENTII  ENCHIRIDION.  |  Eua  Columba  fuit,  turn  Can 
dida  nigra  deinde.  |  KLEINE  BIBEL.  |  Namen  vnnd  wunderge- 
schichten  dess  Alten  |  vnnd  Newen  Testaments. 

This  part  of  the  collection  comprises  a  translation  of  the 
Enchiridion,  or  handbook  of  devotions,  of  Aurelius  Prudentius.  It 
is  the  enlargement  indicated  on  the  title-page  of  the  book.  Who 
translated  these  Latin  hymns,  we  are  not  told.  Again  a  new  title, 
as  follows : 

GSANGBUCH  |  NEWER  GEISTLICHER  LIEDER  |  Zum  erkantnus 
des  Heilmachers  Jhesu  |  Christi,  vnd  Jederman  Zur  besserung 
dienstlich.  |  Audi  |  Darin  die  gmeine  Irrthumb  vnd  |  abgotterey  der 
Welt  entdeckt  I  werden. 


2  Cf.  Wackernagel,  loco  citato,  Vol.  I,  p.  591. 


22  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

This  section  is  supplied  with  a  preface  by  Sudermann,  possibly 
indicating  that  he  intended  to  have  these  hymns  published  in  the 
form  of  a  hymn-book.  From  this  preface,  as  well  as  from  the  title 
and  the  passages  of  Scripture  which  follow  it,  we  may  assume  ( I ) 
that  these  hymns  were  gathered  from  Schwenkfelder  writers  only 
and  (2)  that  the  collection  was  prepared  in  defense  of  the  position 
of  the  Schwenkfelders  with  regard  to  the  Lord's  Supper.  This 
manuscript  contains  1 17  hymns.  It  closes  with  the  following  verses  ::{ 

Zu  Christi  lob,  Glori  vnd  preisz, 

Audi  Ehr,  hab  ich  diss  Buch,  mit  vleisz, 

Zusammen  bracht :  Gebenedeyt, 

Der  an  den  tag  brengt,  solche  warheit : 

Yerbannet  auch  dagegen  sey, 

Ders  noch  entfrembd,  vnd  nit  last  frey, 

Oder,  ausz  Ncyd,  zumal  verdirbt : 

Gott  such  Ihn  heim,  ehe  dan  er  stirbt. 

D.   S. 

VIII.     1597. 

GEISTLICHE  LIEDER.  |  Zur  Ermanung  vnnd  anhaltung,  trieb, 
vnd  vbung,  Das  man  Im  Hauss  Gottes  nit  schlafferig  seye :  |  Son- 
der  allzcit  Wachen,  betten,  vnd  ermancn  soil.  |  I.  Teil.  |  Die  Kinder 
diser  Welt  seind  Kliigcr  dan  die  Kinder  des  liechts  In  Ihrem  ge- 
schlecht.  LIT.:  16.  Aber  Gott  |  forchten  vnd  vor  augen  haben  ist 
Weiszheit,  vnnd  vom  |  bosen  weichen,  ist  verstand.  JOB  :  28.  Gott 
forchten  ist  |  Die  volkomme  Weissheit.  ECCL:  i.  Gott  forchten  ist 
weit  |  vber  alles.  ECCL:  25.  |  Ihr  sollends  ihm  nit  verbieten:  Wer 
nit  ist  wider  vns,  |  Der  ist  fur  vns.  MARC:  9.  I.  COR:  I2A.  Dan 
der  einig  Geist  wiirckt  alles,  viid  theilt  einem  Jeglichen  seines  zu, 
nach  dem  Er  will  &c.  |  I.  COR  :  14.  COLOSS  :  3.  Psallierend  in  ewerm 
hertzcn  dem  herren,  lehrend  vnd  erinnert  |  ein  ander,  mit  Psalmen, 
Gesangen  vnd  geistlichen  licdern,  Singet  |  in  der  gnad  jn  ewerm 
hertzen.  |  Durch,  |  Daniel  Suderman  zu  Strassburg  &c.  |  sein  Erste 
vbung  &c. 

Manuscript  in  folio.     1071  pages.    Will  be  designated  hereafter 

Si  i   of  the   Sudermann   collections.     Chronologically,   it   is   the 

second  collection  of  hymns  by  Daniel  Sudermann.     Most  of  these 

*Cf.  Wackernagel,  loco  citato,  Vol.  I,  p.  596. 


DESCRIPTIVE  BIBLIOGRAPHY  23 

hymns  were  written  in  the  period  1588 — 1597.  They  number  in  the 
aggregate  558.  However,  the  collection  contains  hymns  which  were 
admitted  from  manuscript  Si,  so  that  they  were  not  all  new  hymns. 
Of  the  hymns  which  this  collection  comprises,  26  have  appeared  in 
print.  Of  these,  some  had  been  printed  before  the  completion  of 
the  collection.  In  the  years  1605  and  1606,  the  Prussian  composer 
Hans  Schults  copied  from  this  volume  a  considerable  number  of 
hymns  which  he  set  to  music.  According  to  a  note  contained  in 
the  manuscript,  this  collection  originally  comprised  two  volumes. 
Of  the  companion  volume  (II.  Theil)  the  writer  has  nowhere  else 
found  mention.  It  is  probably  no  longer  extant.  Most  of  the  hymns 
contained  in  this  collection  were  admitted  into  the  three  volumes 
which  constitute  the  next  three  numbers  in  this  series — a  manuscript 
hymn-book  in  three  Parts,  quarto.  (Royal  Library,  Berlin.) 

IX.    1615. 

GSANGBUCH,  Newer  geistlicher  |  Lieder.  |  Zum  erkandntis  des 
Heylmachers  Jesu  Christ j,  |  Fur  die  Nevve,  von  oben  heraber  wider- 
|  geborne  Kinder  Gottes,  wie  geschrieben  |  stehet.  ESA  :  54.  JOH  :  3. 
6.  Deine  Kin-  der  werden  alle  von  Gott  gelert  sein,  Wer  es 
nun  horet  von  meinem  vatter,  |  und  lernt  es,  Der  kompt  zu  mir  &c. 
|  I.  Theil.  Ist  etwan  ein  newe  Creatur,  In  Christo,  |  So  ist  das  alt 
vergangen,  Sihe  Ich  |  machs  alles  New.  2.  COR:  5.  |  Es  ist  Alles 
New  worden.  APOC:  21.  |  Der  Naturlich  Mensch  vernimpt  nichts 
vom  |  Geist  Gottes,  es  ist  im  eine  thorheit,  vnd  kan  es  nicht  er- 
kennen,  Denn  es  muss  geistlich  |  gerichtet  sein.  I.  COR  :  2.  |  Durch 
Daniel  Sudermann. 

Manuscript  in  quarto.  1044  pages.  This  is  the  first  of  three 
volumes  which  constitute  chronologically  the  third  collection  of  Su 
dermann  hymns.  We  shall  designate  these  volumes  Sma,  Sui& 
and  Sine  respectively.  The  collection  was  probably  completed  1615 
— possibly  later.  Immediately  preceding  the  hymns  is  an  extension 
of  the  title,  from  which  it  appears  that  Sudermann  intended  at  this 
time  to  issue  in  printed  form  a  complete  collection  of  his  hymns. 
About  one-third  of  the  space  of  the  first  volume  is  devoted  to  hymns 
for  children,  with  such  marginal  notes  as  "Kinderlieder"  and  "Zur 
kinder  leer."  The  total  of  hymns  in  this  volume  is  780,  of  which 
39  have  appeared  in  print.  (Royal  Library,  Berlin.) 


24  SCHVVENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

X.     1615. 

GSANGBUCH.  |  Newer  geistlicher  Lieder  |  Zur  ermanung  vnnd 
anhaltung,  trieb,  |  vnd  vbung,  Das  man  jm  hauss  |  Gottes  nit 
schlafferig  seye ;  Soncler  |  allezeit  wachen,  beten  vnd  ermanen  soil.  | 
II.  Theil.  *  *  *  Durch  Daniel  Suderman. 

Manuscript  in  quarto.  1010  pages.  This  is  collection  Siiifr 
of  the  Sudermann  hymns.  The  date  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  pre 
ceding  number.  It  contains  a  smaller  number  of  "Kinderlieder" 
than  the  first  volume.  Passages  from  the  Scriptures,  the  Church 
Fathers  and  the  mystics  Eckhart  and  Tauler,  are  numerous.  There 
are  also  two  hymns  copied  from  the  writings  of  Tauler,  given  with 
the  text  normalized  by  Sudermann.  The  hymns  in  this  volume 
number  376.  38  have  appeared  in  print.  (Royal  Library,  Berlin.) 

XL     1615. 

GSANGBUCH,  |  Newer  geistlicher  |  Lieder.  Zum  Erkantniis 
desz  Einigen  vvahren  |  Gottes,  vnd  vnsers  Herren  Jesu  Christi,  |  den 
Er  gesendet  hat,  welches  dz  Ewige  leben  ist.  Johan,  17.  |  III.  Theil. 

Manuscript  in  quarto.  1134  pages.  This  is  the  third  part  of 
Sudcrmann's  "Gsangbuch,  Newer  geistlicher  Lieder."  We  shall 
designate  it  as  Siiir.  The  date  is  1615  (circa).  This  volume  con 
tains  1107  hymns,  of  which  about  40  have  been  printed.  (Royal 
Library,  Berlin.) 

The  three  volumes  which  we  have  just  discussed  are  composed 
(i)  hymns  copied  from  the  two  folio  volumes,  Si  and  Sn,  of 
Sudermann  hymns,  and  (2)  new  hymns  written  in  the  years  1600— 
1615  (circa).  Those  transcribed  from  the  two  earlier  collections 
were  in  many  cases  revised  at  this  time.  No  one  of  the  three  vol- 
mes  of  this  hymn-book  contains  an  index  of  first  lines. 

XII.     1618. 

VON  DER  TOCHTER  SION,  |  Das  ist:  |  Von  der  begnadeten   | 
bhabenden  glaubigen  Seel,  wel-   |   che  von  jhrem  Gemahel  Jesu 
I  mit  hebc  vbersich  von  alien  Jrrdischen  Crea-  I  turen   ge- 
3gen,  ergriffen,  vnd  zu  wahrer     Gottlicher  erkantniis  vnd  jhr  sel-  I 
kommen  ist    |  Durch  D.  S.  |  Bey  Jacob  von  der  Heyden  CAL' 
COGRAPIIUM.  |  Anno  1618. 


DESCRIPTIVE  BIBLIOGRAPHY  25 

Octavo.     32  pages.     Contains  the  following  three  hymns: 
Ein  Tochter  Jung,  von  Sion  her, 
Gott  sey  gelobt,  in  ewigkeit, 
Liebende   Seel,   welche  nun  bist. 

The  first  is  in  rhymed  couplets.  The  second  is  in  22  strophes 
of  8  lines.  The  third  is  in  7  strophes  of  8  lines.  We  shall  desig 
nate  it  as  Siv  in  our  list  of  collections  of  Sudermann  hymns.  (Her- 
zogliche  Bibliothek,  Wolfenbiittel.) 

XIII.  1619. 

EIN  GUTE  LEHR,  Wie  die  Christliche  Jungfra-  |  wen,  das  ist, 
die  liebhabende  glaubi-  |  ge  Seele,  ein  Geistlicher  wolbewarter 
Blum-  |  men  gartlein,  in  jhren  hertzen  pflantzen  sollen.  *  *  *  | 
D.  S.  |  Bey  Jacob  von  der  Heyden  CALCO-  |  GRAPHUM  ANNO  1619. 

Octavo.  16  pages.  Will  hereafter  be  designated  as  Sv.  This 
print  contains  four  didactic  poems  in  rhymed  couplets,  and  the 
hymn : 

Hort  jhr  lieben  Jungfrawen, 
in  17  strophes  of  8  lines.     (Herzogliche  Bibliothek,  Wolfenbiittel.) 

XIV.  1619. 

FIVE  LEAVES  IN  FOLIO  with  Didactic  Poems  by  Daniel  Suder 
mann. 

Will  hereafter  be  designated  as  Svi.  There  are  five  poems, 
typographed.  (Royal  Library,  Berlin.) 

XV.  1620. 

SCHONE  AUSSERLESENE  FIGUREN  vnd  hohe  Lehren  von  der  | 
Begnadeten  Liebhabenden  Seele,  Nem-  |  lich  der  Christlichen  Kir- 
chen  vnd  jhre  |  Gemahl  Jesu  Christo.  |  Zum  theyl  ausz  dem  hohen 
Lied  Salomonis,  wie  auch  ausz  der  alten  |  Christlichen  Kirchenleh- 
rern  Schrifften  gezogen,  vnd  in  .  Teutsche  Reymen  verfaszt.  | 
Durch  D.  S. 

This  is  the  first  of  four  related  collections  of  hymns  by  Daniel 
Sudermann  which  will  hereafter  be  designated  as  Svna,  Svufr,  Svnc 
and  SVIIG?,  respectively.  This  series  of  publications  is  extraordinary 
with  regard  to  both  content  and  the  character  of  the  imprints.  Each 


26  SCHWENKFELDER    HYMNOLOGY 

number  in  the  series  consists  of  50  leaves  in  folio  printed  from  en 
graved  copper-plates.  The  arrangement  in  the  case  of  each  plate  is 
as  follows:  First,  a  heading;  under  it  a  symbolic  illustration,  in 
form  rectangular ;  under  this,  a  poem.  Beside  and  below  the  poem 
are  passages  of  Scripture  or  excerpts  from  the  mystics.  Illustra 
tion  and  poem  interpret  these  passages.  At  the  bottom  of  the  plate 
are  the  initials  "D.  S."  and  the  engraver's  mark.  A  few  copies  of 
these  rare  imprints  have  been  preserved  by  the  Schwenkfelders  in 
America.  Of  the  first  number  there  is  a  copy  in  the  Royal  Library, 
Berlin,  and  one  in  the  Herzogliche  Bibliothek  at  Wolfenbiittel.  It 
was  printed  at  Strassburg,  1620. 

XVI.  1620. 

SCHONE  AUSZERLESENE   SlNREICHE   FlGUREN,        aticll   GleichnUS- 

sen,  Erklarungen  Gebettlein  vnd  hohe  |  lehr.  |  Durch  D.  S.  |  Ge- 
druckt  bey  Jacob  von  der  Heyden  Kupferstecher. 

The  second  collection  in  the  series  under  discussion.  Will  here 
after  be  designated  as  Svnb.  Printed  at  Strassburg,  1620.  (Royal 
Library,  Berlin,  and  Herzogliche  Bibliothek,  Wolfenbiittel.) 

XVII.  1622. 

EIN  SCHONE  LEHR,  von  den  sieben  Graden,  |  oder  Staffeln  der 
volkommenen  Liebe,  in  denen  die  Gesponsz  |  Christi  wandeln  soil, 
Anno  1489.  beschrieben,  vnd  jetzt  |  von  \Vort  zu  Wort  in  Druck  ge- 
geben,  durch  D.  S.  |  M.  DC.  XXII. 

Folio.  12  pages.  This  is  a  treatise  on  perfect  love.  It  contains 
(i)  an  essay  written  1489  by  Heinrich  Vigilis  von  Weissenburg  and 
found  in  manuscript  form  by  Sudermann;  (2)  an  enumeration  of 
24  "marks"  of  divine  love,  culled  from  the  writings  of  Eckhard  and 
Tauler;  (3)  the  following  hymn  by  Sudermann: 

Ein  Mcnsch  auffs  new  geboren  schon, 

in  12  strophes  of  4  lines.  Will  hereafter  be  designated  as  Svm. 
(Royal  Library,  Berlin.) 

XVIII.     1622. 

TWELVE  LEAVES  IN  FOLIO  with  Religious  Poems  by  Daniel  Su 
dermann. 

The  second  page  of  each  leaf  is  blank.    The  arrangement  of  the 


DESCRIPTIVE  BIBLIOGRAPHY  2J 

printed  pages  is  essentially  the  same  as  in  the  case  of  numbers  XV., 
XVI.,  XXII.  and  XXIV.  of  this  bibliography — the  series  consisting 
of  symbolic  illustrations  with  interpretations  in  verse,  printed  from 
copper-plates.  These  leaves  are  typographed.  They  contain  12 
poems,  of  which  9  are  in  rhymed  couplets.  This  collection  will  here 
after  be  designated  as  Six.  (Royal  Library,  Berlin,  and  Herzog- 
liche  Bibliothek,  Wolfenbuttel.) 

XIX.     1622. 

HortE  GEISTREICHE  LEHREN,  vnd  |  Erklarungen :  |  Vber  die 
fiirnembsten  Spruche  desz  |  Hohen  Lieds  Salomonis,  von  der  Lieb- 
habenden  Seele,  das  ist,  der  Christlichen  Kirchen  vnd  jhrem  j 
Gemahl  Jesu  Christo.  |  *  *  *  |  Durch  D.  S.  *  *  *  Ge- 
druckt  zu  Franckfurt  bey  Eberhardt  Kieser,  |  In  verlegung  Jacobs 
von  der  Heyden,  |  CHALCOGRAPH  :  ANNO  |  M.  DC.  XXII. 

Folio.  68  leaves.  In  point  of  arrangement,  this  imprint  is  a 
slight  variation  from  the  Sudermann  collections  printed  from  cop 
per-plates.  In  this  collection  the  purely  didactic  poems  are  more 
numerous  than  the  hymns.  There  are  23  hymns,  of  which  three  had 
already  been  published  in  collection  Siv.  This  collection  will  here 
after  be  designated  as  Sx.  (Royal  Library,  Berlin.) 

XX.     1625. 

HYMNS  AND  RELIGIOUS  POEMS  by  Daniel  Sudermann  on  Char 
ity  and  Malevolence,  Harmony  and  Discord,  Peace  and  War. 

Folio.  16  pages,  with  no  collective  title.  There  are  18  poems, 
of  which  8  are  arranged  for  use  as  hymns.  This  collection  will 
hereafter  be  designated  as  Sxi.  (Herzogliche  Bibliothek,  Wolfen 
buttel.) 

XXI.  1625. 

SCHONE   AUSZERLESNE    SlNNREICHE    FlGUREN.    |    Durch    D.    S.    | 

Der  III  theil.  |  Gedruckt  bey  Johan  Erhard  Wagner. 

The  third  collection  in  the  series  printed  from  copper-plates. 
Will  hereafter  be  designated  as  Svnc.  Printed  at  Strassburg,  1625 
(circa).  (Royal  Library,  Berlin.) 

XXII.  1626. 

ETLICHE  HOHE  GEISTLICHE  GESAENGE,  Sampt  anderen  |  Geist- 
reichen  getichten,  so  ausz  der  |  alten  Christlichen  Kirchenlehrer  vnd 


28  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

jhrer  |  nachvolger  Biichern  gezogen.  |  durch  D.  S.  |     *     *     *     Zu 
finden  bey  Jacob  von  der  Heyden  |  CHALCOGRAPHO. 

Octavo.  144  pages.  There  are  42  poems,  of  which  33  are  ar 
ranged  for  use  as  hymns.  Copper-plate  illustrations  accompany  13 
of  the  poems.  This  collection  will  hereafter  be  designated  as  Sxn. 
(Herzogliche  Bibliothek,  Wolfenbuttel.) 

XXIII.     1628. 

X    X    X    X    X.   |   SCIIONER  AUSZERLESENER  SlNNREICHER  FlGUREN. 

|  Durch  D.  S.  |  Der  IIII  theil.  |  Ins  kupfer  gebracht  vnd  in  druck 
geben  durch  Jacob  von  der  Heyden  1628. 

This  is  the  fourth  collection  in  the  series  printed  from  copper 
plates,  and  will  hereafter  be  designated  as  Svud.  (Royal  Library, 

Berlin.) 

XXIV.*     1709- 

A   COLLECTION   OF   HYMNS   COMPILED   BY   CASPAR   WEISS. 

Manuscript.  This  is  the  collection  which  seems  to  have  been  the 
origin  of  the  series  from  which  the  "Saur  edition"  developed.  A 
subsequent  chapter  is  devoted  to  an  account  of  the  hymns  of  this 
collection  and  includes  a  sketch  of  the  compiler.  Whether  the  orig 
inal  manuscript  still  exists,  has  not  been  fully  determined.4 

XXV.*     1733. 

Christliches-  und  dabey  auch  Tagliches  Gesang-Buch  |  Darin- 
nen  cnthalten :  Geistliche  Gesang  und  Lider,  In  welchen  |  Di  Haupt- 
Funct  und  Artikkel  der  Christlichen  Lehr  und  Glaubens  |  kurtz  ver- 
fasset  und  ausgeleget  sind.  An  izt  von  neuem  zusamen  getragen,  | 
und  vom  Authore  fur  sich  und  di  Seinigen  zu  einer  Anweisungs- 
Regel  eingetheilet,  |  Auff  alle  Sonn-  Hohefest-  und  Feyertage 
durchs  gantze  Jahr,  bey  Ermangelung  des  |  offentlichen  reinen  und 
apostolischen  Gottcs-Dinsts,  solches  in  der  Stille  und  im  Hause 


There  is  a  manuscript  in  the  possession  of  Dr.  Julius  F.  Sachse,  of 
Philadelphia,  which  may  prove  to  be  either  the  original  or  a  copy  of  this 
collection.  This  manuscript  the  writer  has  seen,  but  did  not  have  the  oppor 
tunity  for  an  extended  examination  of  it.  Besides,  the  title-page,  the  preface, 
and  a  part  of  the  index  are  missing.  A.  F.  H.  Schneider  also  found  in 
Harpcrsdorf  a  manuscript  of  hymns,  the  identify  of  which  has  not  been 
established.  (Cf.  Zur  Litcratur  der  Schwcnkfcldischen  Liederdichter  bis 
Daniel  Sudcrmann,  p.  21.) 


DESCRIPTIVE  BIBLIOGRAPHY  2Q 

zugebrauchen :  |  Gotte  damit  zu  loben,  sich  selbst  zu  ermahnen  und 
zu  unterweisen,  zu  seiner  selbst  Erbauung  im  Christen-  |  thum,  und 
in  reiner  freyer  Libe  zu  iiben,  bisz  Gott  was  bessers,  und  mehr 
Gnad  |  und  Freyheit  gibet,  ihm  im  Geist  und  Wahrheit  zudinen.  | 
ANNO  MDCCIX.  |  Und  an  izt  nochmahlen  auffs  neu  mit  mehr 
geistreichen  Gesangen  vermehret  und  ver-  |  grossert,  wi  in  der  Vor- 
rede,  im  fiinfften  Artikkel  und  folgends  zusehen,  und  in  Vier 
Abthei-  |  lungen  zu  Sonntaglicher  Ubung  geordnet  und  eingetheilet,  | 
Abgeschriben  und  vollendet,  im  Jahr  Christi  MDCCXXXIII. 

Manuscript.  Transverse  quarto.  The  hymns  comprise  761  pages 
of  illuminative  writing,  "Frakturschrift"  neatly  executed.  Each  page 
has  two  columns.  Individual  lines  of  the  strophes  not  separated. 
The  title-page  is  well  preserved.  Passages  of  Scripture  fill  three- 
fourths  of  the  reverse  of  the  title-page.  The  text  of  the  title  as  far 
as  "ANNO  MDCCIX"  is  presumably  the  title  of  the  collection  of 
that  year.  Four  leaves  are  missing  from  the  preface,  which  consist 
ed  of  eleven  leaves.  It  embodies  the  preface  of  the  collection  of 
1709.  There  is  an  index  of  first  lines,  an  index  of  "Psalmlieder,"  and 
a  third  index  which  lists  the  hymns  by  authors.  The  present  manu 
script  and  the  next  number  in  our  list  together  comprise  the  collec 
tion  compiled  by  Rev.  George  Weiss.  A  later  chapter  is  devoted  to 
an  account  of  the  sources,  the  content  and  the  arrangement  of  this 
collection.  The  present  volume  is  the  property  of  Rev.  O.  S.  Krie- 
bel,  D.D.,  Principal  of  Perkiomen  Seminary,  Pennsburg,  Pennsyl 
vania. 

XXVI.*     1734. 

Der  andere  Theil  Discs  |   Christlichen  |   Gesang-Buchs,  |   von  | 
Pfingsten  bisz  zu  En-  |  de  des  Jahres.       Vollendet  im  Jahr  |  nach 
Christi  Geburt  |  MDCCXXXIV. 

Manuscript.  Transverse  quarto.  The  hymns  comprise  863 
pages  of  the  same  hand-writing  as  that  of  the  volume  just  described. 
The  writing  is  illuminative.  This  manuscript  is  well  preserved 
throughout.  It  is  the  companion  of  number  XXV.  Both  volumes 
are  bound  in  stamped  leather  and  have  clasps  and  metallic  mounts 
and  corners.  This  volume  contains  hymns  for  the  Sundays,  holy- 
days  and  Saints'  Days  between  Whitsuntide  and  Advent.  There 
are  three  indexes,  as  in  the  case  of  the  companion  volume.  (Li 
brary  of  Hartford  Theological  Seminary,  Hartford,  Connecticut.) 


^Q  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

XXVII.*     1752. 

Der  andere  |  Theil  |  Discs  Christlichen  |  Gesang-Buchs  |  von 
Pfingsten  bisz  zu  En-  |  de  desz  Jahres.  |  Abgeschriben  und  vol- 
lendct  im  Jahr  nach  |  Christi  Geburt  M.  D.  C.  C.  LIT. 

Manuscript  in  folio.  The  hymns  fill  866  pages,  and  are  written 
upon  Rittenhouse  paper/"'  This  is  a  transcription  of  the  hymns  of 
the  second  volume  of  the  compilation  by  Rev.  George  Weiss.  The 
transcriber  was  Rev.  Balthaser  Hoffmann.  Interpretations,  supplied 
by  the  transcriber,  accompany  a  number  of  the  hymns.  The  mar 
gins  contain  copious  annotations  and  Scripture  references,  of  which 
but  few  are  contained  in  the  volume  of  1734.  (Historical  Society 
of  Pennsylvania,  Philadelphia.) 

XXVIII.*     1753- 

Christliches  |  und  dabey  auch  |  Tagliches  |  Gesang-Buch  |  Darin- 
nen  enthalten  |  Geistliche  Gesang  und  Lider,  In  welchen  |  Di  Haupt 
Puncte  und  Artikel  der  Christ-  |  lichen  Lehr  und  Glaubens  kurtz 
verfasset  und  |  ausgeleget  sind.  |  An  itzt  von  neuem  zusammen  ge- 
tragea,  |  und  vom  Authore  fiir  sich  und  di  Seinigen  zu  einer  | 
Anweisungs  Regel  eingetheilet,  |  Auf  alle  Sonn-  Hohefest-  und 
Feyer-Tage,  durchs  gantze  |  Jahr,  bey  Ermangelung  des  offentlich- 
en  reinen  und  apostolischen  |  Gottes-Dinsts,  solches  in  der  Stille,  und 
im  Hause  zugebrauchen ;  |  Gotte  damit  zu  loben,  sich  selbst  zu 
ermahnen  und  zu  unterweisen,  |  zu  seiner  selbst  Erbauung  im  Christ- 
enthum,  und  in  reiner  freyer  Libe,  |  zu  iiben,  bisz  Gott  was  bessers 
und  mehr  Gnad  und  Ereyheit  gibet,  ihm  im  Geist  und  Wahrheit 
zudinen.  |  ANNO  MDCCIX.  |  Und  an  izt  nochmahlen  aufs  neu  | 
mit  mehr  geistreichen  Gesangen  vermehret  und  |  vergrossert,  wi  in 
der  Vorrede  im  fimfften  Artik-  |  kel  und  folgends  zusehen,  und  in 
Vier-Abtheilungen  |  zu  Sonntaglicher  Uebung  geordnet  und  ein- 
gethei-  |  let  |  Abgeschriben  und  vollendet,  im  Jahr  Christi,  |  M.  D. 
C.C.  L.III. 

Manuscript  in  folio.  This  is  a  transcription  of  the  hymns  of  the 
first  volume  of  the  compilation  by  Rev.  George  Weiss.  The  tran 
scriber  is  again  Rev.  Balthaser  Hoffmann.  As  in  the  case  of  the 


4  Compare  statement  of  Hon.  S.  W.  Pennypacker,  LL.  D.,  cited  on  p.  14. 


DESCRIPTIVE  BIBLIOGRAPHY  3! 

preceding  number,  there  are  numerous  interpretations,  supplied  by 
the  transcriber.  Annotations  and  Scripture  references  abound. 
The  hymns  comprise  989  pages.  These  companion  volumes  are 
bound  in  leather  and  provided  with  stout  brass  corners  and  mounts 
— the  work  presumably  of  Rev.  Christopher  Hoffmann,  who  was  the 
bookbinder  of  the  Schwenkf elders.  (Historical  Society  of  Penn 
sylvania,  Philadelphia.) 

XXIX.*     1758. 

Ein  Christliches  Gesang-  |  Buch,  Darinen  enthalten  geistliche 
Gesange  |  und  Lieder.  |  In  welchen,  |  Die  Haubt-Artickel  Christ- 
licher  Leh-  |  re  und  Glaubens  kurtz  verfasset,  erklaret  |  und  ausz 
geleget  sind.  |  Anjetzt  von  neuem  zusammen  getragen  und  ein- 
gerichtet  |  nach  Ordnung  der  furnehmsten  Articuln,  der  Apostoli-  | 
schen,  Christlichen  Lehre  und  Glaubens :  Damit  dieselben  |  mogen 
betrachtet,  erkant,  verstanden;  geliebet  und  geiibet  werden,  Gott 
damit  zuloben ;  sich  selbst  zuermahnen  |  und  zuunterweisen,  zu 
seiner  selbst  Erbauung  im  |  Christenthum.  |  1st  auch  versehen  mit 
einem  Register,  nach  welchem  |  die  Gesange  auf  alle  Hohe  Fest- 
Sonn-  und  Feyer-  Tage  |  durchs  gantze  Jahr  eingetheilet  sind,  dasz 
selbe  zu  denen  Ev-  |  angelien  (nach  Belieben  und  wenn  es  gefallig 
1st,  solche  Ordnung  |  zugebrauchen)  konnen  gebraucht,  geubet  und 
betrachtet  |  werden.  |  Also  zusammen  geordnet  und  geschrieben 
im  Jahr  Christi  |  M.  D.  CC.  LVIII. 

Manuscript  in  folio.  On  the  reverse  of  the  title-page  are  five 
passages  of  Scripture.  The  hymns  comprise  1022  pages.  There  is 
an  introduction  of  33  pages.  There  are  also  two  indexes,  compris 
ing  25  pages.  The  volume  contains  800  hymns,  in  the  graceful 
Fraktur  of  Hans  Christoph  Hiibner.  Annotations,  Scripture  refer 
ences  and  index  fingers  abound.  Those  hymns  which  are  transla 
tions  of  Latin  hymns  are  given  in  parallel  columns  with  their  Latin 
originals.  The  initials  of  the  authors  are  written  in  the  margin  be 
side  the  hymns.  The  present  manuscript  and  the  next  number  in 
our  list  together  comprise  the  last  re-arrangement  of  the  Schwenk- 
felder  hymns  preceding  the  appearance  of  the  printed  hymn-book. 
This  volume  is  of  Rittenhouse  paper  and  has  a  durable  leather  bind 
ing.  It  is  the  property  of  the  estate  of  Henry  H.  Heebner,  Worces 
ter,  Pennsylvania. 


32  SCIIWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

XXX.*      1759- 

Ein  |  ancler  Cliristliche(s)  |  Gesang-Buch ;  In  welchem  enthal- 
ten :  |  Die  biblischen  Geschichte,  |  Die  Psalmen  Davids  gereimet, 
und  |  Die  geordnete  Evangelia  gereimet  durchs  |  gantze  Jahr ;  |  So 
zur  Ordnung  (Samlung)  1709,  gehoren.  |  Waiter:  |  Noch  ein  Theil 
gesamlete  Psalmen,  |  Die  Lieder  Daniel  Sudermanns,  |  Die  Medi- 
tationen,  und  |  Die  geordnete  Epistel-Texte  gereimet  durchs  |  gantze 
Jahr;  |  So  zur  Ordnung  (Samlung)  1726.  gehoren.  |  Zusamen 
geordnet  zum  Gebrauch  zu  den  ge(o)rdneten  |  Evangelien  durchs 
gantze  Jahr ;  |  worzu  auch  die  Lieder  im  ersten  Buche  mit  eingezeich- 
net  sind ;  |  Zu  einer  nutzlichen  Hausz-Ubung,  als  auch  zu  eigner  | 
Ermahnung  und  Erbauung  im  Christenthum.|  Geschrieben  im 
Jahr  Christi  MDCCLIX. 

Manuscript  in  folio.  There  is  an  introduction  of  six  pages. 
The  hymns  with  copious  annotations  fill  1204  pages.  This  volume 
contains  only  the  six  series  of  hymns  designated  in  the  title.  Our 
characterization  of  these  series  follows  in  a  later  chapter.  The 
hymns  of  the  various  series  are  distributed  throughout  the  book,  and 
are  arranged  according  to  the  church  year.  The  hymns  for  each 
Sunday  and  holy-day  are  grouped  under  four  heads :  Frilhe,  Vor- 
Diittagc,  Nachnrittage,  Vesper.  With  each  group,  the  compiler  indi 
cates  the  hymns  of  the  corresponding  group  "in  the  first  collection" 
(im  ersten  Buche)  which  are  not  contained  in  this  volume.  He  re 
fers  to  the  collection  of  1758.  The  present  volume  contains  879 
hymns,  again  in  the  pleasing  hand  of  Hans  Christoph  Hiibner.  In 
the  index  of  first  lines  those  hymns  which  are  contained  in  the 
collection  of  Caspar  Weiss  (1709)  are  indicated  by  a  red  initial. 
(Pennsylvania  State  Library,  Harrisburg.) 

XXXI.*     1760. 

EinChristliches  |  Gesang-Buch  ;  Darinnen  enthalten  |  Geistliche 
Gesange  und  Lieder;  |  In  welchen  |  Die  Haubt-Artickel  Christlicher 
Lehr  u.  Glaubens  |  kurtz  verfasset,  erklaret  und  ausgeleget  sind;  | 
Anjetzt  von  neuem  zusammen  getragen  |  und  eingerichtet  nach  Ord 
nung  der  furnehmsten  Artickel  der  |  Apostolichen  Christlichen  Lehr 
und  Glaubens :  damit  diesel-  |  ben  mogen  betrachtet,  erkant,  ver- 
standen,  geliebet  u.  geiibet  |  werden;  |  Gott  damit  zuloben,  sich  selbst 


DESCRIPTIVE  BIBLIOGRAPHY 


33 


zuermahnen  und  |  zuunterweisen,  zu  seiner  selbst  Erbauung  im 
Christenthum.  |  1st  auch  versehen  mit  einem  Register;  nach  wel- 
chem  |  die  Gesange,  auf  alle  Hohefeste,  Sonn-  und  Feyer-  Tage  j 
durchs  gantze  Jahr,  eingetheilet  sind,  dasz  selbe  zu  denen  E-  |  van- 
gelien  (nach  Belieben,  und  wem  es  gefallig  ist  solche  Ordnung  |  zu- 
gebrauchen)  konnen  gebraucht,  geiibet  und  betrachtet  werden.  |, 
Also  zusammen  geordnet  und  geschrieben  |  Im  Jahr  Christi  M  DCC. 
LVIII.  |  Abgeschrieben  und  Vollendet  |  Im  Jahr  M  DCC  LX. 

Manuscript  in  folio.  977  pages.  With  regard  to  the  hymns 
which  it  contains,  this  volume  is  a  transcription  of  number  XXIX. 
of  this  bibliography.  The  introduction  of  this  volume  contains  in 
formation  which  the  present  writer  has  nowhere  else  found. 
Throughout  the  manuscript  the  "corrections"  or  variant  readings  in 
troduced  into  numerous  hymns  by  Caspar  Weiss  and  George  Weiss 
are  indicated.  In  the  seventh  chapter  of  the  present  monograph,  a 
fuller  account  is  given  of  the  special  features  of  this  hymn-book.  It 
was  written  by  Christopher  Hoffmann.  As  a  specimen  of  the  sur 
vival  of  the  medieval  art  of  illuminative  writing,  it  is  doubtless  the 
choicest  manuscript  produced  by  the  Schwenkfelders  in  America.  It 
is  in  the  possession  of  Hon.  Samuel  W.  Pennypacker,  LL.D., 
Pennypacker's  Mills,  Pennsylvania. 

XXXII.     1762. 

Neu-Eingerichtetes  |  Gesang-Buch  |  in  sich  haltend  |  eine  | 
Sammlung  |  (mehrentheils  alter)  |  schoner  lehr-reicher  und  erbaul- 
icher  |  Lieder,  |  Welche  von  langer  Zeit  her  bey  den  Bekennern  | 
und  Liebhabern  der  Glorien  und  Wahrheit  Jesu  Christi  bisz  anjetzo 
im  Uibung  |  gewesen :  |  Nach  den  Haupt-Stiicken  der  Christli-  |  chen 
Lehr  und  Glaubens  eingetheilet,  |  und  |  Mit  einem  Verzeichnisz  der 
Titel  |  und  dreyen  Nutzlichen  Registern  |  versehen.  |  Anjetzo  also 
zusammen  getragen,  |  und  |  Zum  Lobe  Gottes  und  heilsamen  |  Er 
bauung  im  Christenthum,  |  ans  Licht  gegeben.|  Germantown, 
gedruckt  bey  Christoph  Saur,  |  auf  Kosten  verejnigter  Freuden,  1762. 

12  mo.  Pages  XXXIII  plus  760.  There  are  also  three  indexes. 
This  is  the  "Saur  edition"  of  the  Schwenkfelder  hymn-book,  the  first 
hymn-book  of  the  Schwenkfelders  printed  in  America.  It  contains 
917  hymns.  Our  last  chapter  is  devoted  to  an  account  of  this  hymn 
book.  Many  copies  of  this  imprint  still  exist,  in  Schwenkfelder 
families  and  in  historical  collections. 


34 


SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 


XXXIII.     1765. 

Ein  |  ander  Christliches  |  Gesang  Buch  |  Welches  in  sich  be- 
greifft  und  enthalt  |  Die  hundert  und  funffzig  Psalmen  Da-  |  vids 
gcreimet,|  und  die  biblischen  Geschichte.|  Die  Lieder  Daniel  Sud- 
ermanns :  Die  Medita-  |  tiones :  und  die  geordnete  Evangelions-  und  | 
Epistel-  Texte,  gereimet,  durchs  gantze  Jahr.  |  Zu  einer  niitzlichen 
Hausz-Uebung,  als  auch  zu  eigner  Er-  |  mahnung  und  Erbauung  im 
Christenthum.  |  1st  auch  versehen  mit  einem  Register,  nach  wel- 
chem  die  Lie-  |  der  auf  alle  Sonn-  Hohe  Fest  und  Feyer-  Tage 
durchs  |  gantze  Jahr  zu  dencn  Evangelien  (nach  Belieben  u.  wenn 
es  gefallig  ist)  konnen  betrachtet  werden.  |  Jetzund  also  zusammen 
geschrieben  und  vollendet  Anno  MDCCLXV. 

Manuscript  in  folio.  This  volume  is  a  re-writing  of  that  of  the 
year  1759,  and  contains  only  the  hymns  of  said  volume.  In  our 
present  number,  each  series  of  hymns  is  separate,  is  provided  with  a 
special  title-page  and  has  its  own  preface.  The  transcriber  is  Hans 
Christoph  Htibner.  (Schwenckfeld  Library,  Pennsburg,  Pennsyl 
vania.) 

XXXIV.  1813. 

Neueingerichtetes  |  Gesang-Buch,|  enthaltend  eine  |  Sammlung  | 
(mehrentheils  alter)  |  erbaulicher  Lieder,  |  nach  den  Hauptstiicken 
der  Christlichen  Lehre  und  |  Glaubens  eingetheilet.  |  Philadelphia :  | 
Gedruckt  bey  Conrad  Zentler,  in  der  Zweyten  Strasze,  |  unterhalb 
der  Rehs-Strasze.  |  1813. 

Small  6to.  Pages  VIII  plus  538.  Three  indexes.  This  is  the 
second  edition  of  the  Schwenkfelder  hymn-book.  It  is  essentially  an 
abridgment  of  the  edition  of  1762.  It  contains  695  hymns,  of 
which  45  are  not  contained  in  the  first  edition.  Numerous  copies 
still  exist. 

XXXV.  1869. 

Neucin-crichtetes  |  Gesang-Buch,  |  enthaltend  |  eine  Sammlung 
erbaulicher  Lieder,  |  nach  den  Haupt-Stiicken  |  christlicher  Lehre.  | 
Herausgegeben  auf  Verordmmg  |  der  |  Schwenkfelder  Gemeinde.  I 
Druck  von  A.  E.  Dambly,  Skippackville,  Pa.  |  1869. 

Small  161110.    Pages  VIII  plus  540.    Two  indexes.    This  is  the 
third  edition  of  the  Schwenkfelder  hymn-book.     It  contains   343 
f  which  92  are  not  contained  in  either  of  the  earlier  edi- 
It  is  the  present  German  hymnal  of  the  Schwenkfelders. 


DESCRIPTIVE  BIBLIOGRAPHY  35 

PREFACE  OF  THE  "TEGLICHS  GESANGBUCH"  OF  ADAM 
REISSNER.     1596.     (No.  VI.) 

VORRED.6 

In  disem  Buech  seind  die  gaistliche  gsanng  des  Gottesgelehrten 
Christen  manns,  mit  Namen  Aurelius  Prudentius,  die  er  diurnarum 
precum  opus  sive  diurnale,  das  ist  Teglichs  gsanngbuech  genannt,  die 
man  alle  tag  vnnd  alle  stund,  zu  morgens  und  zu  abends,  mag  singen 
vnnd  betrachten,  in  Lateinischen  versen  geschriben  hat,  jeczt  mit 
allem  fleiss  verteutscht  worden,  nachmals  auch  gsang  vsz  hailiger 
schrifft  vnnd  andere  gaistliche  Lieder,  zum  Lob  gottes,  vnnsers 
Herrn  Jesu  Christe,  des  ainigen  Seligmachers,  vnnd  alien  christ- 
gleubigen  zur  beszerung  vnnd  zur  teglichen  iibung  zusamen 
geschriben. 

Dise  gsanng  vnnd  reimen  sein  nit  so  gering  ding,  vie  man  mecht 
achten,  oder  obhin  ansehen,  dann  hierausz  mag  der  Gottszforchtig 
mensch  lernen,  was  die  siind  vnnd  gnad  ist,  was  der  fluech  vnnd  der 
segen,  was  die  verdamnus  vnnd  seligkait,  was  tod  vnnd  leben,  was 
hell  vnnd  himel,  jnn  Summa,  was  der  verfiirer  Satan,  vnnd  dargegen 
der  ainig  Hailmacher  Christus  jst. 

Es  jst  disz  gsanngbuech  furnemblich  nucz  vnnd  dienstlich  alien 
Hauszleuten,  die  sich  bekeren  vnd  jn  himel  trachteo,  Mannen,  Wei- 
bern,  Junckhfrawen  vnnd  Kindern,  insonnderhait  auch  Hanndt- 
werkhs-leuten,  die  den  ganczen  tag  ob  der  arbait  miiessen  siczen, 
wiirckhen  vnd  spinnen,  die  miigen  alle  Zeit,  guette  iibung,  guete  ge- 
danckhen  vnd  hailsame  betrachtung  haben,  vnnd  dardurch  zum  selig- 
machenden  erkanntnis  Jesu  Christ j  (an  welchem  allein  die  ewig  selig 
kait  gelegen)  gefiihrt  werden,  Sonnderlich  wann  sie  dise  Lieder  ausz- 
wendig  lernen,  jn  gedechtnus  fassen,  sich  selbs  der  wolthaten  Gottes 
erjnnern,  erfreuwen  vnnd  den  zuhorern  im  Nachgedenckhen  mach- 
en,  vnnd  also  alle  menschen  vrsach  haben,  jrm  hail  vnnd  seligwer- 
dung  nachzutrachten,  aller  schwermiietigkait  vnnd  Anfechtung  wi- 
derstannd  thuen. 

Hierzu  well  der  Herr  Christus  sein  Segen  vnd  frid  geben,  das 
es  jederman  lese  vnnd  bedenckhen,  sonnderlich  zu  diser  gefehrlichen 
Zeit,  da  schier  Niemandts  waist  wa  ausz  vnnd  an,  so  doch  allertrost, 


6  Reprinted  from  Wackernagel,  Vol.  I. 


36  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

hi  Iff  vnnd  hayl  zusuchen  vnnd  zufinden,  allein  beim  Ainigen  Hayl- 
macher  Christo,  vff  welchen  alle  lobsang  gericht,  das  man  sie  nit 
allein  singcn,  sonnder  vilmehr  leesen,  bedenckhen  vnnd  teglich  beeten 
mag,  welches  clann  der  recht  gaistlich  gsang  vnnd  frid  jm  herczen  jst 
jn  allem  triebsal. 

Das  alles  welle  ihm  der  Gottszforchtige  Christglaubige  leser, 
beuolchen  lassen,  vnnd  zu  besserer  erkantnus  der  wahrhait,  sich  dar 
jnn  ersehen,  leesen,  singen,  vnnd  jn  seinem  herczen  teglich  bedenckh 
en,  darneben  mit  fleissigem  gebeth,  beim  Herren  Christo  anhalten, 
das  er  vns  alien  welle  seinen  frid  geben,  vnnd  durch  seinen  hailigen 
gaist  erleuchten,  from,  hailig,  vnnd  seines  ewigen  Reiches  vnnd 
Lebens  thailhafft  machen.  Amen. 


CHAPTER   III. 

THE  SCHWENKFELDER  HYMN- WRITERS  OF  THE  SIXTEENTH  AND 
SEVENTEENTH  CENTURIES. 

IT  will  be  the  design  of  this  chapter  to  provide  an  account 
of  the  Schwenkfelder  hymn-writers  whose  activity  had  termi 
nated  before  the  emigration  of  the  sect  to  America.  Limitation 
in  the  matter  of  space  necessitates  the  exclusion  of  much  inter 
esting  material  which  had  been  prepared  for  this  part  of  our 
narrative.  Consequently  we  shall  confine  the  account  to  a  chro 
nological  list  of  these  writers  and  a  series  of  brief  biographical 
sketches  of  the  more  important  members  of  the  group.  Those 
writers  who  were  among  the  immigrants  will  be  treated  in  our 
account  of  the  American  period  in  subsequent  chapters. 

The  Schwenkfelder  hymn-writers  of  the  European  period 
are: 

Valentin  Crautwald,  1465  (?)— 1545 

Georg  Berkenmeyer,  (?)          — 1545  ca. 

Johann  Schweintzer,  (?)          — I56oca. 

Adam  Reissner,  1496         — 1575(?) 

Valentin  Triller,  (?)          — 1580 ca. 

Johann  Raimund  Weckher,  wrote  (circa)  1540       — 1570 

Sebastian  Franck,  1500  ca.— 1545 

Alexander  Berner,  wrote  1550  ca. 

Bernhard  Herxheimer,  wrote   (circa)  1555  ff. 

Alexander  Heldt,  wrote  1565    ff. 

Sigmund  Bosch,  wrote  1570  ca. 

Daniel  Sudermann,  155°      — l^Zl 

George  Frell,  wrote  (circa)  1575    ff. 

Claus  Stuntz,  wrote  1580  ca. 

Antonius  Oelsner,  wrote  (circa)  1590    ff. 

AnnaHoyer,  1584       —1656 

George  Heydrich,  ( ?)          —1657  ca. 

Martin  John,  Jr.,  1624      —1707 

VALENTIN  CRAUTWALD  is  a  name  not  unfamiliar  to  stu- 

(37) 


38  SCHWENKFELDER    HYMNOLOGY 

dents  of  church  history.  Of  his  early  life  we  know  but  little. 
An  autobiographical  sketch  written  1540  is  preserved  in  manu 
script  in  the  Herzogliche  Bibliothek  at  Wolfenbiittel.1  It  fails 
to  give  the  year  of  his  birth.  It  records,  however,  that  he  was 
born  at  Neisse,  Silesia,  the  native  town  of  Michael  Weisse, 
originator  of  the  German  hymn-book  of  the  Bohemian  Brethren. 
He  and  Weisse  were  contemporaries  and  we  may  safely  assume 
that  they  were  acquainted.  In  1523  he  was  called  to  Liegnitz 
as  prebendary  (Domherr)  or  Lector.  This  appointment  he  prob 
ably  owed  to  Schwenkfeld.2  He  was  an  intimate  of  Schwenkfeld 
and  for  more  than  twenty  years  he  ardently  championed  the  cause 
of  the  Middle  Way,  as  the  Reformation  under  Schwenkfeld  was 
called.  For  his  accomplishments  in  Hebrew,  Greek  and  Latin 
he  enjoyed  a  wide  reputation  and  was  recognized  as  a  gifted 
writer  of  religious  verse,  of  which  some  was  written  in  defense 
of  Schwenkfeld.  He  died  in  Liegnitz,  1545,  and  is  said  to  have 
reached  the  age  of  80  years. 

GEORG  BERKENMEYER  was  exhorter  in  the  Swabian  city 
of  Ulm.  He  is  the  author  of  a  number  of  writings  directed 
against  Romanism  and  defending  the  doctrine  of  the  "inner 
light."  The  period  of  his  activity  was,  approximately,  1525- 
1545-  At  the  time  of  the  prosecution  of  Schwenkfeld  by  the 
town-council  of  Ulm,  1540,  Berkenmeyer  was  indicted  for  par 
tisanship  with  Schwenkfeld.  His  best  known  hymns  are: 

"O  Herr,  bisz  clu  mein  Zuversicht",  and 
"O  clu  betriibter  Jesu  Christ." 

The  former  was  printed  at  Strassburg,   1568,   1569  and   1580. 
Nurnberg,   1607.     The  latter  at  Strassburg,   1580  and 


JOHANN  SCHWEINTZER  was  a  Silesian  and  a  pupil  of  Valen- 

ittwald.    In  1530,  in  partnership  with  Petrus  Schaefer  he 

ting  press  at  Strassburg.     Among  the  products  of 

•  A.  F.  H.  Schneider,  loco  citato,  p.  4!. 
f.  Corpus  Schwenckfeldianorum,  I,  151. 


EARLY   SCHWENKFELDER    HYMN-WRITERS  39 

his  press  were  editions  of  the  writings  of  Crautwald  and  also 
of  a  few  works  by  Schwenkfeld,  including  his  confession  of 
faith.  Schweintzer  had  been  associated  with  Schwenkfeld  in 
Liegnitz  and  followed  him  to  Strassburg  in  1529.  In  1556,  he 
was  subjected  to  a  trial  for  his  Schwenkfeldianism.  The  follow 
ing  hymns  by  Schweintzer  are  noteworthy: 

"Gliickselig  ist  der  Mann", 

"O  hochster  Gott  in  deinem  Thron",  and 

"Dasz  Gott  der  Herr  so  freundlich  ist." 

All  three  appeared  in  the  Strassburg  hymn-book  of  1537.  The 
third  appeared  also  in  the  Augsburg  hymn-book  (edited  by 
Salminger),  1537,  and  in  Zwick's  hymn-book  published  at 
Zurich,  1540. 

ADAM  REISSNER  (or  REUSNER)  was  born  in  1496  at  Miin- 
delheim  (now  Mindelheim)  in  Bavaria.  He  first  studied  at  Wit 
tenberg,  and  afterwards,  about  1520,  he  learned  Hebrew  and 
Greek  under  the  noted  humanist  Johann  Reuchlin.  He  then 
became  private  secretary  to  Georg  von  Frundsberg  (who  died 
1528)  and  accompanied  him  during  the  campaign  in  Italy,  1526- 
1527.  After  the  capture  of  Rome  in  1527  he  went  back  to  Ger 
many,  locating  in  Strassburg.  It  may  be  well  to  remind  our 
selves  that  Schwenkfeld  was  in  Strassburg  during  the  period 
1529-1535;  and  it  was  during  his  sojourn  in  Strassburg  that 
Reissner  made  the  personal  acquaintance  of  Schwenkfeld. 
Henceforth  he  remained  a  loyal  adherent  and  friend  of  the 
Silesian  Reformer,  as  he  himself  said,  "despite  all  opposition  and 
affliction."  The  duration  of  his  stay  in  Strassburg  is  uncertain. 
For  some  years  he  pursued  the  profession  of  the  law  in  Frank- 
furt-am-Main,  but  seems  to  have  spent  most  of  his  life  after 
leaving  Strassburg,  in  his  native  town  of  Mindelheim.  Here  in 
retirement  and  contentment,  his  professional  career  and  public 
life  dismissed  from  his  mind,  he  found  himself  immersed  in  his 
favorite  occupation — study  and  the  pursuit  of  literature.  The 
year  of  his  death  is  not  known  with  certainty,  but  was  probably 


40  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

1575.     His  motto,  composed  by  himself  and  taking  into  consid 
eration  his  own  Christian  name,  was : 

"Was  lebt,  das  stirbt  durch  Adams  Noth, 
Was  stirbt,  das  lebt  durch  Christi  Tod." 

Adam  Reissner's  published  works  are  these : 

1.  The  Miracles  of  Jesus  Christ?     Printed  by  the  Feierabend 
press,  Frank furt-am-Main,  1565. 

This  is  a  folio  of  672  pages.  It  contains  a  long  religious  poem 
in  59  strophes  of  7  lines,  beginning: 

"Der  heylig  Geist  lasz  gelingen." 

The  hymn  is  a  summary  of  the  miracles  of  Christ. 

2.  A  History  of  the  Military  Exploits  of  Gcorg  and  Caspar 
von  Frundsberg.    Frankfurt-am-Main,  1568.     Second  edition,  1572. 

3.  The  Psahns  Translated.    Frankfurt,  1568.    This  is  an  edition 
of  Reissner's  metrical  versions  of  the  Hebrew  Psalms.    Until  recent 
years  the  author's  private  copy  of  these  hymns  was  in  the  possession 
of  Oberlehrer  A.  F.  H.  Schneider,  the  Schwenkfelder  historian. 

4.  Jerusalem*    Printed  by  the  Feierabend  press,  Frankfurt-am- 
Main,  1569. 

This  is  a  folio  of  442  pages.  It  consists  of  three  parts,  of  which 
the  first  and  second  are  dated  1565.  It  closes  with  the  hymn — Jeru 
salem,  heilig  genannt.  This  hymn,  by  Reissner,  is  a  translation  of 
the  Latin  hymn — Urbs  beata  Jerusalem.  It  is  in  6  strophes  of  6 
lines,  and  forms  the  acrostic  "JHESUS". 

The  Teglichs  Gesangbuch,  already  discussed  under  number 
VI.  of  our  Descriptive  Bibliography,  is  another  important  work 
by  Reissner.  According  to  Koch,5  this  collection  was  published 
by  Reissner.  However,  the  manuscript  of  1596  is  the  only 
form  in  which  it  is  now  extant.  Of  all  the  Schwenkfelder  hymn- 
writers,  in  both  Europe  and  America,  the  two  greatest  names 
are  Daniel  Sudermann  and  Adam  Reissner.  True,  Reissner's 

"MIRACVLA,  Wundcrwcrck  Jhesu  Christj.  *  *  *   Durch  Adam  Reissner." 
'"IERVSALEM,  Die  Gaistlich  himlisch  Stat  Gottes.    *    *    *     Durch  Adam 
Reissner." 

§  Koch,  loco  citato,  II,  159. 


EARLY  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMN-WRITERS  4! 

hymns  do  not,  like  those  of  Sudermann,  number  thousands;  but 
they  number  hundreds,  and  their  merit  is  unmistakable.  Indeed, 
Wackernagel,  who  gives  twenty-five  of  Reissner's  hymns  in  full, 
expresses  the  opinion  that  he  is  the  author  of  many  hymns  which 
have  hitherto  been  credited  to  other  writers. 

But  of  Reissner's  most  widely  known  hymn  we  have  thus 
far  made  no  mention.  It  is  the  choice  magnificent  hymn — "In 
dich  hab  ich  gehoffet,  Herr."  This  hymn  is  a  metrical  version 
of  the  Thirty-first  Psalm.  It  was  first  published  in  the  Form 
und  ordnung  Geystlicher  Gesang  und  Psalmen,  Augsburg,  1533. 
It  appeared  in  Zwick's  hymn-book,  1540,  and  in  Babst's  (Luth 
eran)  hymn-book,  1545.  It  was  included  in  most  of  the  German 
hymn-books  up  to  the  middle  of  the  i8th  century.  It  appeared 
in  the  German  hymn-book  of  the  Bohemian  Brethren,  editions 
of  1606  and  1639,  and  subsequently  in  the  Moravian  hymn- 
book.  All  the  editions  of  the  Schwenkfelder  hymn-book  con 
tain  it.  The  following  are  well-known  English  translations  of 
this  hymn  :6 

"In  Thee,  Lord,  have  I  put  my  trust", — Catherine  IVinkworth; 
"Great  God !  in  Thee  I  put  my  trust", — /.  C.  Jacobi ; 
"Lord,  I  have  trusted  in  Thy  name",— Dr.  H.  Mills  ; 
"On  Thee,  O  Lord,  my  hopes  I  lean", — N.  L.  Frothingham. 

We  reprint  the  hymn,  employing  the  orthography  of  the 
first  edition  (1533). 

PSALM  XXXI. 

IN  TE  DOMINE  SPERAUI. 

"!N  dich  hab  ich  gehoffet,  Herr, 

hilff,  das  ich  nit  zu  schanden  wer 

noch  ewigklich  zu  spotte. 

Des  bitt  ich  dich, 

erhalte  mich 

in  deiner  trew,  mein  Gotte. 


*  Cf.  Julian,  loco  citato,  p.  955. 


42  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

2.  "Dein  gnadig  or  nayg  her  zu  mir, 
erhoer  mein  beth,  thu  dich  herfiir, 
eyl  bald  mich  zuerretten. 

In  angst  vnd  wee 

ich  lig  vnd  steh, 

hilff  mir  in  meinen  notten. 

3.  "Mein  Gott  vnnd  schirmer,  steh  mir  bey, 
sey  mir  ain  burg,  darinn  ich  frey 

vnd  ritterlich  mog  streytten 

Wider  mein  feynd, 

der  gar  vil  seind 

an  mich  auff  bayden  seytten. 

4.  "Du  bist  mein  sterck,  mein  felsz,  mein  hort, 
mein  schildt,  mein  krafft,  sagt  mir  dein  wort, 
mein  hilff,  mein  hayl,  mein  leben, 

Mein  starcker  Got 

in  aller  not : 

wer  mag  mir  wider  streben? 

5.  "Mir  hat  die  welt  triiglich  gericht 
mit  liegen  vnd  mit  falschem  dicht 
vil  netz  vnd  haimlich  stricken: 
Herr,  nymm  mein  war 

inn  diser  gfar, 

bhiit  mich  vor  falschen  tiicken. 

6.  "Herr,  meinen  gayst  beuilch  ich  dir, 
mein  Got,  mein  Got,  weich  nit  von  mir, 
nimm  mich  in  deine  hende ! 

O  warer  Gott, 

ausz  aller  not 

hilff  mir  am  letsten  ende! 

7.  "Glori,  lob,  ehr  vnd  herligkait 
sey  Got  vatern  vnd  sun  berayt, 
dem  hailing  gayst  mit  namen. 
Die  gottlich  krafft 

mach  vns  syghafft 

durch  Jesuin  Christum,  Amen." 


EARLY   SCHWENKFELDER    HYMN-WRITERS  43 

VALENTIN  TRILLER  was  the  editor  of  a  hymn-book  pub 
lished  at  Breslau,  I555-7  It  contained  145  hymns,  most  of  which 
were  products  of  his  own  pen.  It  was  reprinted  1559,  under 
a  new  title.8  Triller's  hymns  include  many  revisions  of  old 
German  hymns  and  some  translations  of  Latin  hymns.  Wacker- 
nagel  reprints  in  hymns  which  are  credited  to  him.  Up  to 
the  time  of  his  banishment  from  Silesia,  in  1573,  Triller  stead 
fastly  maintained  that  the  persecution  which  he  suffered,  as  a 
Schwenkf elder  by  reputation,  was  wholly  unjust,  inasmuch  as 
he  held  religious  views  which  were  altogether  peculiar.  How 
ever,  previous  to  the  appearance  of  the  first  edition  of  his  hymn- 
book,  some  of  his  hymns  had  been  printed  as  Schwenkfelder 
hymns.  Again,  the  early  manuscript  collections  contain  hymns 
by  Triller,  and  these  are  retained  in  the  larger  collections  com 
piled  in  the  Seventeenth  and  Eighteenth  Centuries.  The  Saur 
edition,  also,  contains  fifteen  of  Triller's  hymns. 

DANIEL  SUDERMANN/  in  whom  the  cause  of  the  Middle 
Way  received  both  a  fresh,  a  timely  and  powerful  impetus,  was 
the  scion  of  an  old  and  honored  family.  One  of  his  ancestors, 
Hendricus  (Heinrich)  Sudermann,  who  lived  in  the  I4th  cen 
tury,  was  a  knight  and  a  patron  of  the  Order  of  St.  Alexius.  In 
the  year  1432,  and  subsequently,  Katharina  Sudermann  and 
other  members  of  the  Sudermann  family,  who  had  taken  the  veil, 
lived  in  the  cloister  of  St.  Gertrude  at  Koln,  where  they  were 
occupied  with  the  transcribing  of  religious  books.  Many  of 
these  manuscripts  came  into  the  possession  of  Daniel  Suder 
mann,  and  one  of  them,  written  in  1469,  was  taken  as  the  model 
for  his  handwriting — the  artistic  engrossing  hand  of  his  numer 
ous  manuscripts,  which  has  always  received  unvarying  high 
praise  for  its  symmetry  and  grace.  Sudermann's  father  (1514- 

T"Ein  Schlesich  singebuchlein  aus  Gottlicher  schrifft.  *  *  *  Durch 
Valentinum  Triller  von  Gora."  (Cf.  Wackernagel,  loco  citato,  IV,  191. 

8"Ein  Christlich  Singebuch,  fur  Layen  und  Gelerten,  Kinder  und  alten, 
daheim  und  in  Kirchen  zu  singen.  *  *  *  Durch  Valentinum  Triller  von 
Gora." 

"Cf.  Schneider,  loco  citato,  p.  gff.  Koch,  II.  Allgemeine  deutsche  Biog 
raphic. 


44  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

1564),  whose  court-name  was  Lambert  Suavius,  was  an  artist 
and  copper-plate  engraver.  Among  his  patrons  were  Duke  Will 
iam  of  Cleves,  Duke  Frederick  of  Saxony,  the  Duke  of  Weimar, 
and  two  emperors  of  the  Holy  Roman  Empire,  Charles  V.  and 
Maximilian  II. 

Daniel  Sudermann  was  born  at  Luttich  in  the  Netherlands, 
February  24,  1550.  But  little  is  known  of  his  early  years.  In 
1558  we  find  him  in  school  at  Aachen.  The  year  1568  marks 
the  beginning  of  his  long  career  as  private  tutor  (Hofmeister) 
to  numerous  young  counts  and  noblemen.  This  activity  con 
tinued  for  a  period  of  more  than  twenty  years.  In  1576  he 
was  presented  to  the  Emperor  Maximilian,  who  "most  gra 
ciously"  furnished  him  with  an  introduction  to  the  newly  ap 
pointed  viceroy  of  the  Netherlands.  During  these  years  he  wrote 
many  poems  in  praise  of  his  high-born  patrons  and  friends.  In 
1585  he  assumed  the  charge  of  the  instruction  of  the  sons  of 
the  nobility  at  the  Bruderhof  in  Strassburg.  In  1594  he  was 
made  vicar  of  the  Bruderhof,  where  he  lived  until  near  the 
close  of  his  long  life.  As  early  as  1585,  reprints  and  new  edi 
tions  of  Schwenkfeld's  works  began  to  appear,  issued  under  the 
direction  of  Sudermann,  but  not  until  1594  did  he  announce 
his  participation  in  the  views  of  Schwenkfeld.  He  gives  the 
following  brief  account  of  his  own  career  :10 

"D.  S.  1st  geboren  Anno  1550.  Er  ist  Catholisch,  aber  bald  Anno 
1558  In  dcr  Caluinischen  Schul  gangen.  Audi  zu  der  Lutherischen 
predig  mit  gangen,  Den  Teiiffern  auch  zttgehort.  Ist  Anno  1594  zu 
erkantntisz  der  Warheit  kommen,  vnd  hat  Ao.  1624,  disz  vffge- 
schrieben  seines  alters  74.  noch  starck,  frisch,  vnd  gesund,  als  lang 
der  Herre  sein  Christus  wil.  bisz  1628.  1629.  Gottlob.  1630.  1631." 

His  death  occurred  in  1631. 

The  earliest  of  Sudermann's  poems  which  still  exist  were 
written  in  1568.  His  poetic  activity  during  the  period  1572-1580, 
was  limited  for  the  most  part  to  the  production  of  motto-hymns 
and  acrostic  poems,  the  latter  in  praise  of  his  patrons  of  noble 

10  Cf.  Corpus  Schwcnckfcldianorum,  I,  5if. 


EARLY   SCHWENKFELDER    HYMN-WRITERS  45 

birth.  Beginning  with  the  year  1584,  he  seems  to  have  been 
occupied  for  some  years  chiefly  with  the  publishing  of  Schwenk- 
feld's  works.  Neither  the  editor's  name  nor  the  place  of  publi 
cation,  Strassburg,  appears  in  any  of  these  editions.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  the  Sixteenth  Century  was  the  great  age  of 
the  German  "master-singers"  and  their  "Singschulen,"  and  for 
a  few  years  (1589-91 )  Sudermann  practiced  the  Meistergesang — 
the  writing  of  lyric  poetry  according  to  the  strict  rules  of  the 
guild  of  the  Meistersanger.  Many  of  his  poems  of  this  period 
are  included  in  his  manuscript  collections  of  later  years,  and  are 
usually  indicated  by  the  marginal  note :  "Disz  ist  ein  Meister 
gesang."  That  Sudermann  joined  the  "master-singers"  of 
Strassburg,  or  that  he  was  acquainted  with  his  contemporary 
Johann  Fischart  can  not  be  said  with  certainty.  However, 
Fischart  was  a  staunch  Protestant  and  began  his  literary  career 
by  writing  satires  on  Catholicism.  Of  these,  the  most  import 
ant,  Der  Binenkorb  (1579)  and  Das  Jesuit  enhiltlein  (1580), 
were  issues  of  the  printing-press  of  Jobin,  Fischart's  brother-in- 
law,  in  Strassburg,  the  press  which  soon  after  printed  some  of 
the  Schwenkfeld  literature  published  by  Sudermann. 

In  his  next  period,  1594  ca. — 1610,  we  find  Sudermann 
wholly  absorbed  in  his  study  of  the  mystics.  In  these  years  his 
unresting  enterprise  is  applied  in  part  to  the  collecting  of  old 
and  rare  manuscripts  of  the  writings  of  such  Christian  teachers  as 
Bernhard  of  Clairvaux  (1090-1153),  Bonaventura  (1212-74), 
Meister  Eckhart  (ca.  1260-1327),  Heinrich  Seuse,  or  Suso 
(1295-1366),  Johann  Tauler  (ca.  1 300-6 1),11  Johann  Geiler  of 
Kaisersberg  (1445-1510),  Heinrich  Vigilis  of  Weissenburg 
(1489)  and  numerous  other  exponents  of  the  belief  in  the  direct 
ness  of  the  soul's  communion  with  God.  From  these  writings 
he  made  selections  of  the  choicest  passages,  which  he  compiled 
and  added  to  his  library.  A  number  of  the  manuscripts  col 
lected  he  himself  transcribed  with  the  greatest  care.  Indeed,  it 
may  safely  be  said  that  the  recognition  which  is  due  Daniel 

11  Cf.  Corpus  Schwenckfeldianorum,  I,  389. 


46  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

Suclermann  for  having  collected,  transcribed  and  preserved  this 
literature  has  hitherto  not  been  acknowledged.  His  hymns  both 
of  this  period  and  later  years  reflect  much  of  the  sentiment  and 
the  imagery  of  these  Christian  writers,  of  whom  Tauler  was  for 
Suclermann  the  master-teacher  and  close  companion. 

The  last  two  decades  of  his  life,  like  the  earlier  periods, 
Sudermann  spent  chiefly  in  literary  employment.  Until  about 
1628,  he  lived  at  the  Bruderhof.  He  was  never  married,  always 
enjoyed  good  health,  and  even  at  the  age  of  80  years  he  gov 
erned  an  active  and  a  vigorous  pen.  He  was  a  voluminous 
transcriber  of  Schwenkfelder  literature,  and  in  this  role  he  was 
designedly  supplying  a  real  want  of  his  friends.  These  tran 
scripts  are  frequently  inscribed  thus: 

"Disz  Bitch  soil  niemands  eigen  sein, 
Schwenckfelds  Discipeln  ich  schenks  insgemein." 

In  this  period  he  completed  the  fair-copy  of  his  hymns  con 
tained  in  collections  S  Ilia,  S  Illb  and  S  IIIc  of  the  list  given 
below.  All  of  the  important  collections  of  hymns  by  Suder 
mann  which  appeared  in  print,  were  published  in  the  years  1618- 
1628.  As  might  be  conjectured,  a  number  of  the  hymns  written 
in  this  decade  reflect  the  fierce  religious  strife  of  the  calamitous 
Thirty  Years'  War. 

Sudermann  was  the  author  of  2500  hymns  and  other  relig 
ious  poems,  of  which  435  have  appeared  in.  print.  Wackernagel 
alone  prints  211  of  Sudermann's  hymns  in  full.  Schneider12 
gives  a  list  of  Sudermann's  writings  amounting  to  twenty-seven 
numbers,  not  including  his  theological  treatises.  If  now  we  re 
mind  ourselves  that  for  more  than  a  score  of  years  Sudermann's 
duties  as  Hofmeister  claimed  the  major  portion  of  his  time,  that 
he  directed  the  publication  of  many  of  Schwenkfeld's  works, 
that  during  his  curacy  at  the  Bruderhof  he  accumulated  a  col 
lection  of  old  manuscripts  which  has  ever  since  been  an  object 
of  admiration  to  bibliophiles,  copied  five  large  volumes  of  hymns, 

12  Cf.  A.  F.  H.  Schneider,  loco  citato,  pp.  i2ff. 


EARLY   SCHWENKFELDER    HYMN-WRITERS  47 

edited  twenty  publications  of  writings  by  himself  and  by  Tauler, 
and  that  by  forty  years  of  toil  as  transcriber  he  has  preserved 
to  us  a  vast  quantity  of  Schwenkfelder  literature  as  well  as  much 
of  our  information  concerning  Schwenkfeld  and  his  adherents, 
we  shall  be  able  to  approximate  a  just  conception  of  the  amazing 
activity  of  this  resourceful  and  devoted  champion  of  Caspar  von 
Schwenkfeld. 

The  complete  list  of  collections  of  hymns  written  by  Suder- 
mann  follows.  Of  the  published  collections,  the  place  of  publi 
cation  is  given  if  known.  The  Roman  numeral  given  after  the 
title  refers  to  our  Descriptive  Bibliography. 

S  i.  Geistliche  Lieder.    Manuscript  in  folio.     1587.     v. 

S  ii.  Geistliche  Lieder.    Manuscript  in  folio.     1597.    viii. 

S  in  a.  Gsangbuch  Newer  geistlicher  Lieder.  I.  Theil.  Manu 
script  in  quarto.  1615.  ix. 

S  in  b.  Gsangbuch  Newer  geistlicher  Lieder.  II.  Theil.  Manu 
script  in  quarto.  1615.  x. 

S  in  c.  Gsangbuch  Newer  geistlicher  Lieder.  III.  Theil.  Manu 
script  in  quarto.  1615.  xi. 

S  iv.  Von  der  Tochter  Sion.    Strassburg.     1618.     xii. 

S  v.  Ein  gute  Lehr.    Strassburg.    1619.    xiii. 

S  vi.  Five  leaves  in  folio,  xiv. 

S  vii  a.  Schone  ausserlesene  Figuren  und  hohe  Lehr  en.  Strass 
burg.  1620.  xv. 

S  vn  b.  Schone  ausserlesene  Sinreiche  Figuren.  Strassburg. 
1620.  xvi. 

S  vn  c.  Schone  ausserlesene  Sinreiche  Figuren.  Strassburg.  1625 
(circa),  xxi. 

S  vn  d.  xxxxx.  Schoner  auszerlesener  Sinreicher  Figuren.  1628. 
xxiii. 

S  viii.  Ein  Schone  Lehr,  von  den  sieben  Graden,  oder  Staff  eln 
der  volkommenen  Liebe.  Strassburg.  1622.  xvii. 

S  ix.  Twelve  Leaves  in  folio,    xviii. 

S  x.  Hohe  geistreiche  Lehren,  und  Erkl'drungen.    1622.    xix. 

S  xi.    Sixteen  Pages  in  folio,    xx. 

S  xii.  Etliche  Hohe  geistliche  Ges'dnge.    Strassburg.    1626.  xxii. 


48  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

As  a  hymn-writer,  he  was  honored  by  his  contemporaries 
and  is  ranked  high  by  modern  writers  on  hymnology.  Gram 
matically,  his  poetry  is  not  infrequently  defective,  but  it  will  be 
remembered  that  his  linguistic  traditions  were  Low  German. 
Schneider  says:  "Sudermann  always  chose  good  models,  in 
Dutch,  French  and  Latin  as  well  as  in  German.  Schwenkfeld's 
flow  of  language,  Reissner's  brevity  and  Tattler's  fervour  are 
reflected  in  his  writings."  Wackernagel's  valuation  of  Suder 
mann  and  his  hymns  runs  thus,  in  English  translation:  "He 
was  a  true  Christian,  his  poems  are  simply  like  so  many  spon 
taneous  devotions,  in  which  his  soul  was  submerged  as  he  studied 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  the  church  fathers,  the  mystics  and  the 
Reformers;  and  it  seems  as  though  in  the  fifty  years  of  his 
hymn- writing  he  had  only  godly  thoughts.  I  have  spent  much 
time  in  the  study  of  this  author;  indeed,  I  have  a  fondness  for 
him,  because  his  hymns  are  so  genuine  and  at  the  same  time  so 
pertinent."  The  following  hymn  on  the  deception  of  temporal 
joy,  written  in  1584,  we  have  chosen  to  illustrate  both  the  godli 
ness  and  the  lyric  fire  of  this  prince  of  Schwenkfelder  hymn- 
writers  : 

"VON  DER  FALSCHEN   BETRUEGLICHEN   WELTFREUDE. 

"O  blinde  Welt,  wie  hast  du  mich  gestoret 

Von  Jugend  vff  vnd  noch  in  diese  Zeit, 

O  arge  Welt,  wie  hastu  mich  bethoret 

Vnd  abgebracht  von  rechter  Bahn  so  weit ! 

O  falsche  Welt, 

Wollust  vnd  Gelt, 

Wee  dem  ewig,  der  auff  dich  helt. 

"O  kurtze  freud,  o  langwirige  schmertzen, 
O  Ewigkeit,  wie  machst  mir  ein  getrang, 
Wan  ich  ernstlich  bedenck  von  gantzem  hertzen, 
Nach  dieser  Zeit  dasz  du  wehrest  so  lang. 
O  falsche  Welt,  etc. 


EARLY   SCHWENKFELDER    HYMN-WRITERS  49 

"O  liechteschein,  welchs  finsternisz  gebehret, 
Dein  Ehre  fiihrt  zu  spott  vnd  ewger  schand, 
O  kurtze  Rhu,  so  lang  die  Seel  beschweret, 
O  Eygen  Will,  hernach  gfangnisz  vnd  band ; 
O  falsche  Welt,  etc. 

"Fahr  bin  o  Welt,  dir  will  ich  vrlatib  geben, 

Fahr  bin  o  Welt,  esz  musz  geschieden  sein, 

Fahr  bin  o  Welt,  mit  dir  mag  ich  nit  leben, 

Fahr  bin  o  Welt,  du  brechst  rnich  sunst  in  pein. 

Fahr  bin  o  Welt, 

Wollust  vnd  Gelt, 

Wee  dem  Zuletst,  der  auff  dich  belt." 

MARTIN  JOHN,  JR.,  was  born  in  Glatz,  1624.  This  was  six 
years  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Thirty  Years'  War  and  five 
years  before  the  appearance  in  Germany  of  Gustavus  Adolphus, 
king  of  Sweden,  as  the  defender  of  the  leaderless  Protestants. 
The  story  of  the  early  life  of  Martin  John,  the  younger,  reflects 
the  privation  and  suffering  of  this  final,  protracted  conflict  be 
tween  Protestantism  and  Catholicism.  For  three  generations 
this  Schwenkfelder  family  was  prominent  in  the  struggle  of  the 
sect  in  Silesia  for  existence. 

In  1583,  the  elder  Martin  John,  grandfather  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  adopted  the  faith  of  Schwenkfeld,  and  in  1584 
bought  property  in  Harpersdorf  and  settled  there.  Soon  after, 
he  began  to  work  as  a  lay  evangelist,  holding  public  services  at 
his  own  house.  Persecution  followed,  and  he  and  his  associates 
became  the  victims  of  violence  and  incivility.  His  household 
furniture  was  destroyed,  his  fields  laid  waste  and  he  himself 
committed  to  prison  at  Liegnitz.  After  a  year's  confinement 
here,  where  the  most  unsanitary  conditions  prevailed,  with  con 
sequent  disease  and  death  among  the  prisoners,  he  was  removed 
to  the  tower  of  an  old  castle  on  the  Grotzberg.  Here  in  1594, 
after  eight  years  of  detention  he  died,  having  steadfastly  refused 
to  exchange  his  liberty  of  conscience  for  personal  freedom.  Nu 
merous  sermons  and  tractates  penned  during  his  imprisonment 


50  SCIIWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

were  brought  to  America  by  the  Schwenkfelder  immigrants  in 

J734- 

The  father  of  our  hymn-writer  was  George  John,  who  with 

his  family  for  a  time  escaped  the  hardships  of  the  war.  In  1627, 
however,  a  detachment  of  Imperial  troops  was  quartered  in  his 
house  with  instructions  to  resort  to  torture,  if  necessary,  in  order 
to  compel  the  family  to  embrace  the  Catholic  faith.  A  guard  was 
placed  before  each  door  of  the  house  to  prevent  flight  or  rescue. 
But  George  John  had  made  provision  for  a  possible  exigency  of 
this  kind.  Much  to  their  surprise,  and  contrary  to  their  accus 
tomed  treatment  the  soldiers  were  invited  to  enjoy  a  substan 
tial  repast.  The  temptation  proved  too  great  for  their  vigilance, 
and  a  day  of  festivity  was  proclaimed.  Picture  their  satisfac 
tion  when  the  feast  already  in  progress  is  augmented  by  an 
abundance  of  the  choicest  wine.  The  ruse  of  the  host  is  wholly 
successful.  First  a  general  carousing  and  tippling,  and  by  and 
by  soldiers  and  watch  are  soundly  intoxicated  and  fast  asleep. 
Under  cover  of  the  night,  George  John  now  escapes,  taking  with 
him  his  wife  and  two  children  and  a  sister.  The  elder  child,  a 
daughter,  was  at  this  time  eight  years  of  age  and  little  Martin 
in  his  fourth  year.  All  his  life  he  retained  the  memory  of  this 
flight. 

When  we  next  hear  of  Martin  John,  Jr.,  he  is  some  thirty 
years  of  age  and  a  physician  in  the  town  of  Hockenau,  Princi 
pality  of  Jauer,  Silesia.  The  war  had  been  terminated  by  the 
Treaty  of  Westphalia  (1648) ;  but  this  treaty,  like  the  Peace  of 
Augsburg  (1555),  granted  to  every  ruling  prince  the  right  to  en 
force  his  religion  upon  his  subjects,  and  to  banish  all  who  refused 
to  confonn.  In  a  word,  the  Schwenkfelders  had  again  been  out 
lawed,  and  with  the  year  1650-51  began  the  period  of  oppression 
which  the  Schwenkfelders  of  that  time  and  succeeding  genera- 
tions  called  "the  great  persecution."13  Martin  John,  Jr.,  is  the 

f,  "J[°ron  acco""t  of  the  persecutions  which  the  Schwenkfelders  suffered 
'f  Autrshnrcr  anj  again  after  the  dose  of  the  rr,.:^..  „___  , 

,"  by  Hon.  C.  Heydrick,  in  the 


EARLY   SCHWENKFELDER    HYMN-WRITERS  51 

author  of  an  account  of  Schwenkfeld,  his  tenets  and  the  history 
of  the  reformation  under  Schwenkfeld  up  to  the  second  half  of 
the  Seventeenth  Century.  Several  copies  of  this  chronicle  are 
extant  in  manuscript  in  America.  It  includes  an  account  of  the 
measures  adopted  by  the  magistracies  of  Liegnitz  and  Jauer  at 
the  instigation  of  the  Lutheran  clergy,  for  the  coercion  of  the 
Schwenkfelders.  The  chronicler  records  with  great  particular 
ity  the  reproach  and  persecution  suffered  by  his  contemporaries 
George  Heydrich,  the  hymn-writer,  and  Balthaser  Jakkel,  both 
of  whom  publicly  opposed  the  baptism  of  the  children  of 
Schwenkfelder  parents.  Heydrich  was  deprived  of  his  property 
in  Harpersdorf,  was  twice  made  to  endure  extreme  hunger  and 
twice  received  a  cudgeling.  He  was  three  times  imprisoned  at 
Liegnitz.  During  his  final  imprisonment  (1654-1656)  he  con 
tracted  an  illness  of  which  he  died  shortly  after  his  release. 
Martin  John,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  also  passed  about  nine 
months  in  prison  at  this  time  at  Jauer,  for  having  conducted 
religious  services. 

Although  the  chronicle  in  question  furnishes  many  facts  of 
the  life  of  Martin  John,  Jr.,  it  does  not  contain  a  connected  nar 
rative  of  his  career.  However,  from  this  and  other  sources  it 
appears  that  he  was  a  man  of  considerable  learning  and  an  ardent 
believer  in  Schwenkf eld's  conception  of  Christian  living.  As  a 
chronicler,  he  rendered  significant  service;  and  he  always  la 
mented  the  fact  that  through  the  persecution  of  the  preceding 
century  as  well  as  by  reason  of  the  long  war,  a  great  amount 
of  historical  matter  and  printed  literature  had  been  lost  and  de 
stroyed.  He  died  in  1707  at  the  advanced  age  of  83  years. 
Soon  after,  and  while  the  hymn-collection  of  Caspar  Weiss  was 
being  compiled,  his  hymns  came  to  light  and  forty  were  immedi 
ately  admitted  to  the  collection.  All  the  editions  of  the  Schwenk 
felder  hymn-book  contain  hymns  by  Martin  John.  The  Saur 
edition  contains  thirty.  As  far  as  we  know  there  has  not  been 
found  a  collection  of  his  hymns  that  purports  to  be  complete; 
and  hence  a  full  account  of  his  activity  as  a  hymn-writer  must 
be  deferred  until  additional  information  concerning  him  has  been 


^2  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

disclosed.  There  exists  a  manuscript  of  ninety-seven  hymns  by 
Martin  John,  of  which  about  one-third  are  translations  of  Latin 
hymns,  chiefly  by  Aurelins  Prudentius.14  Of  the  hymns  of  this 
collection,  a  number  are  metrical  versions  of  Psalms.  It  is  note 
worthy  that  this  Schwenkfelder  physician,  historian  and  hymn- 
writer,  was  also  the  author  of  a  printed  work  on  bee-culture. 
As  far  as  we  know,  there  is  but  a  single  copy  of  this  imprint  ex 
tant  in  America.15 

We  give  here  a  poem  of  Schwenkfelder  authorship  printed 
on  a  broadside  in  1580.    The  place  of  publication  is  not  known.16 

MADRIGAL. 

"Es  ist  mir  allzeit  lieb, 

Wann  gute  Freunde  zu  mir  kommen ; 

Dann,  weil  ich  mir  schon  langstens  vorgenommen, 

Nicht  viel  mehr  atis  zu  gehen, 

So  kan  man  leicht  verstehn, 

Dasz  mir  der  Zuspruch  lieber  Leute 

So  angenehm  als  niitzlich  sey ; 

Doch,  disz  erinnere  ich  dabey, 

Dasz,  weil  ich  sehr  erpicht  aufs  angenehme  Heute 

Mir  der  am  liebsten  sey,  der  wohl  bey  sich  erwagt, 

Wie,  offt  ein  gtiter  Freund  dem  andern 

Viel  edle  Zeit  vertragt: 

Drum  wer  nichts  Nothigs  mehr  zu  sagen  weisz, 

Beliebe  nur  bald  wiederum  zu  wandern ; 

Dan  wer  zum  Zeit-Vertrieb,  mit  ausgekehrten  Sinnen 

Von  seinem  Nechsten  schlecht,  ohn'  Zweck  zur  Bessrung  spricht, 

Und  von  sich  selbst  zum  Lob,  und  sonst  von  eitlen  Dingen 

Der  hat  die  Zeit  nur  iibel  angewendt; 

Wan  ich  ihn  aber  bleiben  heisz, 

So  trail  cr  mir,  es  sey  kein  Compliment." 


14  This  manuscript  is  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Daniel  M.  Anders,  Fairview 
Village,  Pa.,  who  kindly  permitted  the  writer  to  examine  it  for  this  work. 
Mrs.  Susanna  Krauss  Heebner,  Worcester,  Pa.,  is  the  possessor  of  a  manu 
script  of  which  a  part  consists  of  hymns  by  Martin  John. 

"  In  the  possession  of  William  H.  Anders,  Kulpsville,  Pa. 

"A  copy  of  this  broadside  is  in  the  possession  of  Hon.  S.  W.  Penny- 
packer,  Former  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  who  kindly  allowed  the  present 
writer  to  reprint  the  "madrigal"  here. 


EARLY  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMN-WRITERS  53 

Schwenkfeld  himself  seems  to  have  written  but  little  verse. 
Of  course  he  recognized  the  irresistible  power  of  congregational 
singing  as  an  agency  in  the  establishment  of  the  Reformation 
cause,  and  was  looking  on  with  the  warmest  approval  as  all 
Germany,  awakened  by  the  song  of  "the  nightingale  of  Witten 
berg"  began  to  sing  itself  into  Protestantism.  It  was  he  who,  in 
1534,  requested  Katharina  Zell  to  publish  a  new  edition  of  the 
first  German  hymn-book  of  the  Bohemian  Brethren.17  True,  it 
is  possible  that  some  hymns  of  his  may  have  been  suppressed 
along  with  other  literature  from  his  pen.  However,  a  few  treas 
ured  verses  of  his  composition  have  been  preserved.  We  give 
here  three  pairs  of  rhymed  couplets  by  Schwenkfeld.  The  first 
appears  in  all  the  editions  of  the  Schwenkfelder  hymn-book,  on 
the  reverse  of  the  title-page.  The  other  two  strophes  appear  on 
a  broadside  published  by  Daniel  Sudermann.  This  broadside 
contains  a  contemporary  portrait  of  Schwenkfeld,  of  the  year 
1556.  The  verses  in  question  appear  just  below  the  portrait. 
They  are  a  metrical  amplification  of  Schwenkfeld's  motto :  "Nil 
triste  Christo  recepto."  On  the  same  broadside  are  twenty-eight 
lines  of  verse  written,  according  to  Schneider,18  by  Sudermann. 
They  begin:  "Herr  Caspar  Schwenckfelds  leib  und  G'stalt."19 
Following  are  the  strophes  by  Schwenkfeld: 

"Wenn  singt  im  Hertzen  Gottes  Geist, 
In  Christo  Gott  wird  recht  gepreiszt; 
Wenn  aber  singt  der  fleischlich  Christ, 
Solch  Lob  fur  Gott  ein  Greuel  ist. 


Wer  lesum  christv  vor  im  hat 

der  rhvet  sanfte  frve  vnd  spat 

er  ist  getrost  in  aller  nott 

und  ob  er  schon  hie  steckt  im  chott 


"  Cf.  A.  F.  H.  Schneider,  loco  citato,  p.  21. 

18  Cf.  A.  F.  H.  Schneider,  loco  citato,  p.  12. 

19  Cf.    Erldiiterung   filr   Caspar   Schwenckfeld.      Second    edition,    facing 
frontispiece. 


54  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

Das  er  avch  wird  der  wellte  spot 
so  schaidet  er  doch  nit  von  got 
der  in  behvet  vor  hell  nnd  todt 
vnd  speist  in  mit  seim  himel  brott. 

The  following  hymn  entitled  "Of  the  Love  of  Christ,"  be 
cause  of  its  associations,  must  always  retain — at  least  for 
Schwenkfelders — a  peculiar  charm.  It  was  written  in  Ulm  on 
the  occasion  of  the  approaching  death  of  Schwenkfeld.  In  the 
earliest  Schwenkfelder  collections  which  contain  it,  Agathe 
Streicher  is  named  as  the  writer  of  the  hymn.  It  will  be  ob 
served,  however,  that  the  fourth  and  sixth  lines  of  the  third 
strophe  seem  to  indicate  that  it  was  not  written  by  a  woman, 
and  for  this  and  other  reasons  the  question  has  been  raised  by 
Wackernagel :  "May  it  have  been  written  by  Schwenkfeld  him 
self?"  The  hymn  follows:20 

"VON  DER  LIEJ3  CHRISTJ. 

"Wach  auf,  mein  seel, 
mit  Psalmen,  Beet  en,  singen, 
hab  Lieb  ob  alien  Dingen 
den  waren  hochsten  Gott, 
Jhesum,  sein  Lieben  Sohne, 
regierend  jn  dem  Trone 
in  gleicher  macht  vnnd  Ehr, 
fiir  mich  am  Creuz  gestorben. 

2.  "Jhesu,  mein  Gott, 
gib  dich  mir  zuerkennen : 
wa  jch  dich  nu  hor  nennen 
sich  mein  gemiit  erfreut. 
Du  kennst  dein  Creature, 
das  jch  bin  von  Nature 
durch  Satanns  List  vnnd  trug 
in  siinden  ganz  verdorben. 


Reprinted  from  Wackernagel,  Vol.  V. 


EARLY   SCHWENKFELDER    HYMN-WRITERS  55 

3.  "Herr  JHESU  Christ, 
lasz  dir  es  gehn  zu  herczen 

den  Jamer  vnnd  den  schmerczen, 

darjun  jch  gfangner  bin, 

Von  meiner  siinden  wegen, 

darjn  jch  armer  glegen 

inn  Hell,  jn  Angst  vnnd  tod, 

du  allein  kanst  Erlosen. 

4.  "Da  jst  kein  Rast 

noch  ru  zu  keiner  stunde, 
bisz  Du  mich  machst  gesunde 
an  gewissen,  hercz  vnnd  seel : 
Ftier  ausz  von  disem  Laide, 
das  jch  von  Dir  nit  schaide, 
das  jch  Dir  volge  nach 
vnnd  mit  gedult  verharre. 

5.  "Ich  opfer  mich 

dir,  meinem  Gott  vnnd  Herren, 
jch  bitt  Dich,  wellest  mehren 
mein  glaub,  hoffnung  vnd  Lieb, 
Das  jch  bej  dir  mog  bleiben, 
das  mich  nicht  kiind  abtreiben 
Verfolgung,  Angst  vnnd  tod, 
fiier  mich  jns  Ewig  Leben." 


CHAPTER   IV. 
HYMNS  USED  BY  THE  SCHWENKFELDERS  BEFORE  1762. 

IN  our  account  of  the  hymns  sung  by  the  Schwenkfelders 
prior  to  the  appearance  of  the  Saur  edition,  we  are  concerned 
chiefly  with  the  American  period.  Among  the  followers  of 
Schwenkfeld  there  have  always  been  hymn-lovers,  who  have 
sought  to  preserve  the  hymns  written  by  Schwenkfelders.  Thus, 
in  1537,  Valentin  Ickelsamer1  published  at  his  own  expense  a 
letter  of  consolation  received  from  Schwenkfeld  during  a  serious 
illness,  and  with  the  letter  Reissner's  hymn:  "In  dich  hab  ich 
gehoffet,  Herr."  Thus  about  the  middle  of  the  century,  Reissner 
wrote  his  Teglichs  Gesangbuch,  in  which  he  preserved  hundreds 
of  the  hymns  of  the  earliest  Schwenkf elder  writers.  Thus  half 
a  century  later,  Sudermann  set  forward  the  same  work.  Thus 
in  the  Seventeenth  Century  the  hymns  of  Sudermann,  Oelsner, 
Anna  Hoyer,  Heydrich  and  Martin  John,  Jr.,  were  saved;  and 
in  the  next  century,  despite  the  menace  of  persecution  in  Europe 
and  the  hardship  of  pioneer-life  in  America,  Caspar  Weiss, 
George  Weiss,  Balthaser  Hoffmann,  Christopher  Kriebel,  Hans 
Christoph  Hiibner,  Christopher  Hoffmann,  and  Christopher 
Schultz  all  produced  large  transcripts  of  Schwenkfelder  hymns. 

These  hymns,  excepting  such  as  were  not  suitably  arranged 
to  be  sung,  were  preserved  for  use.  To  be  sure,  the  early 
Schwenkfelders  could  not,  like  those  who  settled  in  America,  as 
a  sect  establish  churches,  adopt  an  order  of  worship  and  prepare 
a  hymn-book  for  general  use.  In  these  matters  each  community 
of  Schwenkfelders  was  usually  independent  of  all  others,  be 
cause  of  the  state  measures  decreed  to  prevent  religious  confer 
ences  and  public  worship  among  them.  In  the  Sixteenth  Century, 
followers  of  Schwenkfeld  were  found,  not  only  in  Silesia,  but 
in  many  parts  of  Germany  and  in  Moravia,  Switzerland  and 
Strassburg,  Augsburg  and  Ulm  were  leading  centres. 

1  Cf.  Schneider,  loco  citato,  p.  7. 
(56) 


HYMNS  USED  BEFORE   1762  57 

In  the  Royal  Library,  Berlin,  is  a  manuscript  containing  hymns 
sung  by  the  Schwenkf elders  in  Ulm,  ca.  1560-1580.  In  1583 
this  congregation  was  dispersed,  some  settling  in  Soeflingen  and 
others  in  Justingen.  In  their  affliction  they  had  a  hymn-book 
printed  for  their  own  use  and  consolation:2  "G.  M.  D.3  Ein 
Christlich  Psalter-Gebett  der  Betrengten  Kirchen  Gottes  zu  Trost 
gestellet  und  ausz  den  CL.  Psalmen  Dauids  zusamengezogen. 
Ulm,  Johann  Anton  Ulhart,  MDLXXXV." 

In  America  there  was  from  the  first  a  gradual  increase  in 
the  practice  of  using  hymns  collected  by  Schwenkf  elders.  These 
collections,  as  noted,  included  the  best  hymns  of  Schwenkfelder 
authorship.  In  numbers  XXV.  and  XXVI.  of  our  Descriptive 
Bibliography,  which  were  written  in  Saxony  and  brought  to 
America  in  1734,  and  which  together  comprise  the  earliest  tran 
scription  of  the  collection  of  George  Weiss,  there  are  unmistak 
able  evidences  that  this  manuscript  furnished  many  of  the  hymns 
sung  in  their  public  worship.  Again,  soon  after  the  death  of 
George  Weiss  (1740),  and  during  the  ministry  of  Balthaser 
Hoffmann,  a  number  of  smaller  manuscript  hymn-books  ar 
ranged  for  church  use  and  based  on  the  Weiss  hymn-book  ap 
peared.  The  largest  of  these  is  extant  in  two  volumes,  quarto. 
It  was  completed  in  1747  and  is  the  work  of  Christopher  Kriebel, 
later  the  catechist  of  the  Schwenkfelders.  Indeed,  this  activity 
began  in  the  first  years  following  the  landing  of  the  Schwenk 
felders.  There  is  preserved  a  hymn-book  of  this  kind  inscribed : 
"Written  for  Rosina  Yeakel.  Anno  1735."  It  contains  hymns 
for  the  Sundays  and  holy-days  and  for  some  of  the  Saints'  Days, 
beginning  with  the  first  Sunday  of  Advent.  A  careful  compar 
ison  has  shown  that  the  collection  in  question  is  an  abridgment 
of  the  Weiss  hymn-book.  It  is  supplied  with  an  index  of  first 
lines,  and  throughout  bears  manifest  marks  of  having  rendered 
service.4  This  is  true  of  most  of  these  hymn-books,  which  shed 


2Cf.  Schneider,  loco  citato,  p.  8f.    Koch,  II,  421  f. 

'  Votum:   "Gott  mit  dir":  "God  be  with  you." 

4  In  the  possession  of  Rev.  J.  H.  Dubbs,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Franklin  and 


^g  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

much  light  upon  a  portion  of  the  chronicle  recorded  for  the  year 
1759  in  the  Historische  Anmerknngcn*  by  Rev.  Christopher 
Schultz.  The  passage  runs  thus :  "For  years  we  have  had  under 
consideration  the  question  of  publishing  a  hymn-book  for  our 
own  use,  believing  that  it  would  prove  a  welcome  work,  because 
the  hymns  which  we  are  using — excepting  those  which  chance 
to  be  preserved  by  transcription  and  compilation — have  a  scat 
tered  existence." 

We  do  not  wish  to  convey  the  idea  that  the  Schwenkfelders 
have  at  no  time  used  printed  hymn-books  other  than  those  in 
tended  for  the  sect.  The  Silesian  Schwenkfelders  knew  and 
used  all  the  editions  of  the  German  hymn-book  of  the  Bohemian 
Brethren  (Moravians),  admitting  possibly  a  single  exception. 
For  a  period  of  about  thirty  years  beginning  1535,  this  hymn- 
book  was  not  generally  in  favor  among  Schwenkfelders,  because 
of  a  change  in  Schwenkf eld's  attitude  to  this  religious  body. 
But  after  the  appearance  of  the  edition  of  1566  and  until  the 
emigration  from  Silesia  (1726)  the  Schwenkfelders  of  the  prin 
cipalities  of  Liegnitz  and  Jauer  continued  to  use  these  hymns. 
A  number  of  copies  of  this  hymn-book  were  brought  to  America 
by  the  Schwenkfelder  immigrants.  Twelve  of  these  copies  have 
come  under  the  observation  of  the  present  writer.  Some  of  the 
copies,  which  were  rebound  when  still  in  use,  were  supplied 
with  blank  leaves  on  which  were  added  in  manuscript  the  hymns 
used  by  the  sect  but  not  contained  in  the  Bohemian  hymn- 
book.6  This  fact  is  a  striking  corroboration  of  our  thesis,  that 
the  Schwenkfelders  probably  at  no  time  used  only  the  hymns  of 
the  Bohemian  Brethren. 

We  are  not  disposed,  however,  to  depreciate  the  significance 

Marshall  College,  Lancaster.  Pa.,  who  kindly  allowed  the  present  writer  to 
compare  this  manuscript  with  its  original.  The  book  seems  to  have  been 
written  by  Rev.  George  Weiss. 

'Published  by  Prof.  M.   D.   Learned,   Ph.   D.,  L.   H.   D.,  in  Americana 
Germanica,  Vol.  II,  No.  i. 

'The  most  interesting  copy  of  this  description  known  to  the  writer  is  the 
?py  ™"«i  was  owned  and  used  by  David  Seibt.     It  is  in  the  possession  of 
>.  W.  Pennypacker,  Former  Governor  of  Pennsylvania. 


HYMNS  USED   BEFORE    1762  59 

of  the  splendid  service  which  Bohemian  hymnody  performed  for 
Schwenkfeldianism.  Indeed,  of  the  bequest  left  to  Christendom 
by  the  Bohemian  hymn-writers,  most  of  the  Protestant  churches 
of  Germany  and  Great  Britain  have  in  some  measure  been  bene 
ficiaries.  The  German  hymn-book  of  the  followers  of  John 
Huss  was  a  manual  of  devotions  in  hundreds  of  Schwenkfelder 
families  during  the  weary  years  of  unyielding  persecution.  The 
copies  brought  to  America  include  all  the  editions  issued  from 
Schwenkf eld's  death  (1561)  to  the  end  of  the  Seventeenth 
Century.  According  to  a  Schwenkfelder  chronicle  written  in 
Silesia  in  the  Seventeenth  Century  by  Hans  Seibt,  and  supple 
mented  and  extended  in  America,  Melchior  Dehnst,  a  pious 
Schwenkfelder  writer  and  transcriber  was  occupied  (1660  ca.} 
with  the  revision  of  a  number  of  hymns  in  the  Bohemian  hymnal 
—his  aim  being  to  adapt  them  to  Schwenkfeld's  Confession  of 
Faith.  Balthaser  Hoffmann  also  records,  in  a  document  which 
we  shall  quote  in  our  next  chapter,  that  this  hymn-book  was 
still  in  common  use  among  the  Schwenkfelders  at  the  opening  of 
the  Eighteenth  Century.  Indeed,  in  the  matter  of  arrangement, 
the  hymn-books  of  the  Schwenkfelders  printed  in  America  all 
retain  the  stamp  of  the  quarto  editions  of  the  Bohemian  hymnal. 
We  list  here  the  various  editions  of  the  German  hymn-book 
of  the  Bohemian  Brethren  since  it  served  as  an  important  source 
for  the  Schwenkfelder  collections  discussed  in  the  remaining 
chapters  of  this  work: 

1531.  Bin  New  Geseng  buchlen.  Jungen  Buntzel  durch  Geor- 
gen  Wylmschwerer.  1531.  6to.  Was  the  largest  collection  of  Ger 
man  church  hymns  yet  published.  Contained  162  hymns,  of  which 
143  were  translations  from  the  Bohemian,  by  Michael  Weiss (e). 
Other  editions:  Ulm,  1538,  and  Ulm,  1539  (two  editions). 

1544.  Ein  Gesangbuch  der  Bruder  in  Behemen  und  Merherrn. 
Niirnberg,  1544.  8vo.  Contained  181  hymns:  149  hymns  of  Michael 
Weiss  and  32  hymns  added  by  Johann  Horn.  Of  these,  26  had  been 
translated  into  German  by  Horn,  who  edited  this  hymn  book. 

1566.  Kirchengeseng.  First  quarto  edition  of  Bohemian  hymn 
book  (German).  Contained  343  hymns.  Of  the  hymns  of  the  edition 


60  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

of  1544,  only  15  are  omitted.  This  edition  has  an  appendix  with  106 
hymns  by  Lutheran  authors. 

1580.  Kir chcnge sang.  The  preceding  edition  (1566)  repub- 
lished  without  alteration.  Niirnberg,  1580. 

1606.  Kirchcngesdnge.  The  edition  of  1566  revised  and  en 
larged.  Martin  Polycarp  was  the  editor.  Published  in  Moravia. 

1639.  Kirchensange.  A  new  edition.  Published  at  Lissa, 
Poland.  Contained  360  hymns  written  by  Bohemian  Brethren.  Of 
these,  141  are  hymns  of  Michael  Weisse.  This  edition  contains  a 
biographical  list  "of  those  (14)  persons  who  translated  the  Bohemian 
hymns  into  German  verse".  This  is  the  only  edition  in  this  series 
which  furnishes  biographical  information  concerning  these  hymn 
writers.  We  shall  have  occasion  to  mention  this  list  again,  in  our 
discussion  of  the  Schwenkf elder  hymn-book  of  1762. 

1661.  Another  edition  of  the  German  hymn-book  of  the  Bo 
hemian  Brethren  was  published  at  Amsterdam  in  1661.  The  editor 
was  the  noted  educational  reformer  John  Amos  Comenitis.7 

T  Cf.  Julian,  Dictionary  of  Hymnology,  p.  156. 


CHAPTER    V. 

CASPAR  WEISS:  THE  ORIGINATOR  OF  THE   SCHWENKFELDER 

HYMN-BOOK. 

WE  have  already  seen  that  the  first  Schwenkf elder  hymn- 
book  printed  in  America  was  not  an  isolated  production  but  a 
member  of  a  series  of  hymn-books,  of  which  the  earlier  numbers 
remained  in  manuscript.  The  collection  of  hymns  which  stands 
at  the  head  of  this  series  bears  the  date  of  1709.  It  was  made 
by  Caspar  Weiss,  a  devout  Schwenkfelder,  who  lived  in  the 
town  of  Harpersdorf,  Principality  of  Liegnitz,  Silesia.  Our 
knowledge  of  this  early  Schwenkfelder  hymn-collator,  must  un 
fortunately  remain  limited.  The  year  of  his  birth  is  not  known. 
His  death  occurred  in  Harpersdorf  in  1712,  a  few  years  before 
the  period  of  the  strenuous  though  fruitless  effort  of  the  Jesuit 
mission  in  Silesia  to  stamp  out  the  Schwenkfelders  as  a  sect. 
For  the  following  conclusions,  however,  we  have  ample  docu 
mentary  testimony :  First,  that  Caspar  Weiss  was  an  ardent  de 
votee  of  the  faith  of  the  great  Reformer  for  whom  he  was 
named;  and,  second,  that  by  reason  of  his  familiarity  with  the 
various  creeds  represented  in  Protestantism  at  the  opening  of  the 
Eighteenth  Century,  he  was  admirably  qualified  for  the  work 
of  compiling  the  hymn-collection  which,  in  a  direct  line  of  de 
velopment,  became  the  original  ancestor  of  the  first  printed  hymn- 
book  of  the  Schwenkfelders  in  America,  three  generations  later. 
He  possessed  the  additional  qualifications  of  being  talented 
musically,  and  of  having  a  wide  familiarity  with  the  church 
hymn.  He  knew  the  Latin  hymns  of  St.  Augustine,  St.  Am- 
brosius,  St.  Hieronymus  and  others  of  the  church  fathers,  the 
hymns  of  Luther,  the  earliest  German  hymn-books  of  the  Bohe 
mian  Brethren  or  Moravians  (called  by  Weiss  the  Picards), 
the  hymns  of  the  Schwenkfelder  hymn-writers  of  the  Sixteenth 
and  Seventeenth  Centuries,  and  the  well-known  Nurnbergisches 
Gesang-Buch  of  1690. 

(61) 


62  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

The  following  brief  account  of  Caspar  Weiss  is  taken  from 
the  Vorrede  und  Bericht  prefacing  the  manuscript  volume  of  the 
year  1758: 

"Dieser  Caspar  Weiss  ist  gebiirtig  gewesen  von  Deutmaiinsdorff, 
im  Fiirstenthum  Jatier  in  Schlesien,  sehr  schlechter  l  und  armer  An- 
kunfft;  hat  das  Leinweber-Handwerck  gelernet;  und  sich  in  Har- 
persdorff  (im  Fiirstenthnm  Liegnitz)  mit  Anna  Andersen,  George 
Anders  dess  Aeltern,  Tochter,  vertrauet;  und  also  in  Harpersdorff 
in  einem  schlechten  l  Haiisslein  gewohnet ;  Und  hat  also  seine  gantze 
Lebens-Zeit  in  Armutli  zugebracht.  Gott  hat  ihm  Zwey  Sohne  und 
eine  Tochter  bescheret.  Der  jiingste  Sohn  aber,  und  die  Tochter 
sind  in  ihrer  Jugend  gestorben.  Der  alteste  Sohn  aber,  mit  Namen 
George,  ist  eben  der,  so  ~  hernach  an  diesem  Gesangbuche 3  gear- 
beitet,  und  es  vermehret  hat." 

Translation : 

"The  above  mentioned  Caspar  Weiss  was  born  at  Deutmanns- 
dorf,  Principality  of  Jauer,  Silesia,  of  very  plain  and  poor  parents. 
He  was  a  linen  weaver  by  trade,  and  plighted  his  troth  to  Anna 
Anders,  daughter  of  George  Anders,  the  elder,  of  Harpersdorf, 
Principality  of  Liegnitz,  and  lived  in  Harpersdorf  in  a  modest  little 
home.  And  thus  he  passed  his  entire  life  in  poverty.  God  gave  him 
two  sons  and  a  daughter.  The  second  son,  however,  and  the  daugh 
ter  died  young.  The  elder  son,  George  by  name,  it  was  who  later 
revised  and  enlarged  this  hymn-book." 

In  testimony  of  the  fact  that  Weiss  was  recognized  as  a  man 
of  intelligence  and  influence,  and  that  he  bore  his  part  in  the 
persecution,  to  which  in  the  closing  years  of  his  life  the  Schwenk- 
felders  of  Liegnitz  in  particular  were  subjected,  we  cite  a  brief 
excerpt  from  the  so-called  Erl'dutcruny*  of  the  Schwenkfelders. 
Tottering  with  age,  the  venerable  Weiss  was  compelled  to  stand 
for  six  long  hours  before  the  notorious  Herr  Pastor  Johann 

1  For  New  High  German  "schlichter"  and  "schlichten" :  plain,  simple. 

"i.  e.,  "welcher." 

1  The  collection  of  1709. 

'  Erlauterung  fur  Caspar  Schwenckfeld,  und  die  Zugethanen  seiner  Lehre. 
Second  edition,  Sumnytaun,  1830,  p.  50. 


ORIGIN  OF  SCHWENKFELDER  HYMN-BOOK  63 

Samuel  Neander,  in  the  latter's  study,  to  give  an  account  of  his 
faith.    The  passage  follows : 

"Gemeldeter  Neander  hat  geclachten  Caspar  Weiss,  in  seiner 
Studier-Stube  ganzer  sechs  Stunden  vor  sich  stehen  gehabt,  ohne  ihn 
niedersitzen  zu  lassen,  ihn  um  semen  Glauben  zu  examinieren ;  wel 
ches  Stehen  clem  alten  Mann  fast  nicht  auszuhalten  gewesen,  so  wil- 
lig  und  bereit  er  sonst  zum  Bekenntniss  war.  Von  Seiten  des  Pa- 
storis,  mag  ein  Verstandiger  seine  eigenen  Gedanken  hievon  haben, 
was  es  fur  ein  Gemiith  anzeige." 

Translation : 

"For  six  full  hours,  the  afore-mentioned  Neander  kept  said 
Caspar  Weiss  standing  before  him  in  his  study  without  permitting 
him  to  sit  down,  in  order  to  question  him  concerning  his  faith.  This 
standing  the  aged  man  was  scarcely  able  to  endure,  though  he  was 
quite  willing  and  prepared  to  make  his  confession.  A  rational  per 
son  will  draw  his  own  inference  of  the  disposition  indicated  hereby 
on  the  part  of  the  said  Pastor." 

For  the  information  we  possess  concerning  the  origin  of 
the  hymn-collection  of  Caspar  Weiss,  we  are  indebted  to  the  pen 
of  Rev.  Balthaser  Hoffmann.  The  latter  also  recorded,  in  a  his 
torical  manuscript  still  extant,  an  account  of  the  sources  of  the 
collection,  as  well  as  a  statement  of  the  method  pursued  by  Weiss 
in  arranging  and  editing  the  individual  hymns.  We  quote  Hoff 
mann  in  full,  inasmuch  as  he  both  was  an  intimate  of  the  Weiss 
family  and,  as  we  have  already  noted,  figured  prominently  in  the 
activity  which  this  monograph  purposes  to  set  forth : 

"Und  da  ist  denn  zu  wissen,  dass  Caspar  Weiss,  sein  5  Vater, 
den  Anfang  dazu  5  gemachet;  und  ist  er  dazu  verursachet  worden, 
durch  einen  alten  einfaltigen  Schwenkf elder  seiner  Zeit,  mit  Nahinen 
Mertin  Mentzel  (war  des  alten  Melchior  Mentzels  6  Vater).  Der 
hat  einmahl  zum  Caspar  Weiss  gesagt:  Du  kontest  wohl  das  Ge- 


6  The  reference  is  to  the  collection  of  George  Weiss,  begun  1726. 
'One  of  the  Schwenkfelder  immigrants  of  the  year  1734.     Cf.  Genealogi 
cal  Record,  page  xxx. 


64  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

sang-Buch  (war  das  gedrukkte  Gesangbuch  7,  wi  es  noch  im  grossen 
Format  ist)  etwas  ordnen,  wi  sich  di  Gesange  zu  den  Evangelien 
fiigten  (dcnn  es  war  alles  in  Unordnung  und  Einfalt),  dass  man  si 
ein  wenig  nach  Ordnung  singen  konte:  Denn  du  hattest  Verstand 
und  Wissenschaft  dazu.  Weil  denn  8  Caspar  willig  war  den  Leuten 
zu  dinen,  und  ihm  auch  um  tJbung  in  Lehre  und  Bekantnuss  zu 
thun  war,  hat  er  solches  in  Bedenken  genommen.  Nun  hatte  er  ihm  ° 
di  Psalm-Lider  10  schreiben  lassen,11  samt  vilen  andern  Lidern,  welche 
er  gesammlet ;  auch  di  so  genanten  Romischen  Lider  12,  kamen  auch 
zur  selben  Zeit  Mert.  Johns  Lider  13  (nach  seinem  Tode)  an  Tag. 
Uber  das  14  setzte  George  Weiss,  sein  Sohn  (auff  den  Willen  des 
Vaters)  di  Evangeliums  Texte  15  in  Reime.  Und  also  ordnete  Cas 
par  Weiss  ein  Gesang-Buch  zusammen,  nach  dem  Jahr-Gang  (wel 
ches  di  Ordnung  ist,  wi  si  von  mir  abgeschriben  1709,  und  noch  zu 
sehen  ist)  und  iibergab  und  dedicirte  solches  gleichsam  seinen  Kin- 
dern,  mit  der  Vorrede  oder  Zuschrifft,  und  hat  ihnen  solches  wollen 
nachlassen." 

Translation : 

"And  it  may  therefore  be  made  known  that  Caspar  Weiss,  his 
father,  began  the  work.  And  he  was  encouraged  to  do  it  by  a  plain, 
old  Schwenkfelder  of  his  time,  whose  name  was  Martin  Mentzel 
(old  Melchior  Mentzel's  father)  At  one  time  he  said  to  Caspar 
Weiss:  "You,  of  course,  could  rearrange  our  hymn  book  (referring 
to  the  large,  printed  hymn  book,  which  we  still  have),  in  such  a  way 
that  the  hymns  would  accord  with  the  gospel  lessons  and  could  be 


I  The  hymn-book  of  the  Moravians.    One  of  the  quarto  editions  which  we 
have  listed  in  our  preceding  chapter. 

"The  manuscript  has  "den." 
*  For  the  reflexive  pronoun  "sich." 

"Metrical  versions  of  the  Hebrew  Psalms.  Compare  numbers  vi,  xxx 
and  xxxiii  of  our  Descriptive  Bibliography. 

II  For  "abschreiben  lassen." 

"The  hymns  of  Aurelius  Prudentius.  Written  (circa)  400  A.  D.  in 
Latin.  The  German  translation  of  these  hymns  is  the  work  of  Adam  Reissner. 
A  brief  account  of  the  life  of  Prudentius  is  given  below. 

"Martin  John,  der  Jiingere  (1624-1707). 

14  For  "Ueberdies." 

"Metrical  versions  of  the  "gospel-lessons,"  called  usually:  Lie  der  iiber 
die  hvangeha.  Several  copies  of  these  hymns  are  extant  in  manuscript. 


ORIGIN  OF  SCHWENKFELDER  HYMN-BOOK  65 

sung  to  some  extent  in  order.  You  would  have  the  required  intelli 
gence  and  information."  And  since  Caspar  was  ready  to  serve  his 
people,  and  had  occasion  to  do  something  for  practice  in  Christian 
doctrine  and  in  confession,  he  considered  the  matter.  Accordingly 
he  had  the  Psalm-hymns  copied,  together  with  many  other  hymns 
which  he  collected,  and  the  so-called  'Roman  hymns/  At  that  very 
time,  the  hymns  of  Martin  John  came  to  light,  being  shortly  after 
his  death.  In  addition,  George  Weiss,  his  son  (at  the  request  of 
his  father)  composed  hymns  on  the  Gospel  Lessons.  And  thus  did 
Caspar  Weiss  compile  a  hymn  book,  in  accordance  with  the  church 
year  (the  collection  which  I16  copied,  1709,  and  which  still  exists), 
and  committed  it,  so  to  say,  to  the  care  of  his  children  and  in  the 
preface  dedicated  it  to  them,  desiring  them  to  regard  it  as  a  bequest." 

The  statement  here  given  of  the  sources  from  which  Weiss 
drew,  although  both  instructive  and  trustworthy,  needs  to  be 
supplemented.  According  to  the  account  of  the  compilation  given 
by  the  author  himself,  the  hymns  of  Aurelius  Prudentius  (in 
their  German  dress)  were  made  the  foundation  of  the  collection. 
To  these  were  added  a  number  of  hymns  representing  the 
Schwenkfelder  muse — the  following  Schwenkf elder  hymn-writers 
having  been  preferred :  Adam  Reissner  (1496-1575  ca.),  Johann 
Raimund  Weckher  (wrote  ca.  1540-1570),  Daniel  Sudermann 
(1550-1631),  George  Frell  (wrote  ca.  15751!.),  Antonius  Oels- 
ner  (wrote  ca.  15901!.),  George  Heydrich  (died  1657  ca.),  and 
Martin  John,  Jr.  (1624-1707). 

Another  important  source  of  the  collection  was  the  hymn- 
book  of  the  "Bohemian  Brethren"  (Moravians).  The  originator 
of  the  German  hymn-book  of  the  Moravians  was  Michael  Weiss 
(or  Weisse),  who  translated  about  150  hymns  into  German  from 
the  Bohemian,  and  issued  the  first  edition  of  these  hymns  at 
Buntzel,  1531.  Of  this  hymnal  there  were  three  later  editions, 
all  published  at  Ulm.  Johann  Horn,  a  Moravian,  who  wrote 
many  hymns,  both  in  Bohemian  and  in  German,  issued  at  Niirn- 
berg  (1544)  a  revised  edition  of  the  hymns  of  Michael  Weiss, 


16  Balthaser  Hoffmann. 


66  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

enlarged  by  the  addition  of  a  number  of  hymns  of  his  own  au 
thorship.  The  other  early  German  hymn-books  of  the  Moravians 
were  the  editions  of  1566,  1606,  1639  and  1661,  together  with 
their  reprints.  With  all  these  Caspar  Weiss  was  thoroughly 
familiar;  for  he  spared  no  zeal  in  scrutinizing  the  text  of  each 
hymn  before  admitting  it  to  his  collection,  that  the  finished 
work  might  contain  nothing  that  was  not  in  accord  with  Holy 
Writ.  The  variant  readings  of  the  successive  editions  were  care 
fully  collated  and  compared,  preference  being  consistently  given 
to  the  text  in  its  original  form,  except  where  the  doctrine  failed 
to  be  plainly  non-sectarian.  The  Moravian  hymn-book  referred 
to  in  the  citation  given  below,  was  the  edition  of  i639.17 

Still  another  source  of  the  collection  of  Caspar  Weiss  was 
the  hymn-book  referred  to  below  as  das  grosse  Niirnbergische 
Gesang-Bitch.18  This  source  contributed  the  Lutheran  hymns 
of  the  collection,  together  with  some  hymns  of  Reformed  author 
ship.  And  finally,  there  were  incorporated  into  the  collection 
the  metrical  versions  of  the  "gospel-lessons"  for  the  church  year, 
written  expressly  for  this  compilation  by  George  Weiss,  the  son, 
at  that  time  but  22  years  of  age.  The  section  of  the  original 
preface  (1709)  treating  of  the  sources,  follows: 

"Belangende  di  Authores,  auss  welchen  disc  Gesange  zusammen 
getragen  sincl,  so  ist  AURELIUS  PRUDENTIUS,  oder  der  Ubersetzer 
clesselben  Lider,  der  Urheber  unsers  Gesang-Buches  und  folget  zum 
ersten 

Di  Vorrede  ilbcr  des  PRUDENTII  Gesangbuchlein. 

"Erstlich  sincl  di  Gesange  Hyronimi,  und  Lider  des  theuren 
Christen-Mannes  AURELII  PRUDENTII,  di  er  Diurnarum  rerum  opus, 
das  ist :  Tiigliches  Gesangbuchlein,  genant,  und  in  Lateinischen  Ver- 
sen  geschriben  hat,  mit  allem  Fleisse,  durch  einen  Libhaber  der 
Wahrheit,  verdeutschet ;  nachmahls  auch  ander  Lider,  Nimanden 


"Cf.  Julian's  Dictionary  of  Hymnology,  pp.  156  and  157,  for  an  account  of 
(i)  the  sources  of  the  hymn-book  (1531)  of  Michael  Weiss,  (2)  the  Bohe 
mian  originals  of  the  hymns  of  Johann  Horn,  and  (3)  the  Moravian  hymn- 
book  of  1639. 

18  Doubtless  the  hymn-book  of  1690. 


ORIGIN  OF  SCHWENKFELDER  HYMN-BOOK  67 

zur  Schmach,  sondern  zur  Glori  unsers  Herren  Jesu  Christi,  zusam- 
men  gebracht :  Diss  alles  wolle  ihm  der  gottseelig-christliche  Leser 
lassen  befohlen  seyn;  zu  mehrer  Erkantniiss  der  Wahrheit,  sich  er- 
sehen,  und  im  Hertzen  bedenken:  Daneben  mit  taglichem  Bitten 
beym  Herren  Christo  anhalten,  so  ist  zu  hoffen  er  werde  bald  bessers 
und  mehrers  geben;  nemlich:  di  Psalmen  Davids,  mit  reiner  lautrer 
Wahrheit,  und  Dolmetschung  von  Wort  zu  Wort  aus  der  Hebrei- 
schen  Zungen,  verdeutschet,  di  man  nicht  allein  in  der  Gnade  Christi 
lesen,  sondern  auch  singen ;  sich  iiben,  und  mit  dem  Munde  der 
Wahrheit  bekennen ;  und  also  bas  19  aussen  lernen  ihm  einbilden ; 
sich  zur  Wahrheit  ja  mehr  20  schikken,  darinnen  wachsen  und  zu- 
nehmen.  Das  gebe  der  Herr  Jesus !  zu  seiner  Glorien  und  viler 
Menschen  Heil.  Amen.  !555- 

Folget  das  Leben  PRUDENTII. 

AURELIUS  PRUDENTIUS,  vom  LeserAugusto,  aus  Hispanien  ge- 
bohren,  von  Jugend  auff  in  gutten  Kiinsten,  in  lateinischer  und 
grichischer  Zungen ;  auch  in  Kayserlichen  Rechten,  unterrichtet  und 
gelehret :  Hat  unter  dem  N.  und  Honorio ;  wi  auch  ihrem  Vater 
Theodosio,  Krig  gebraucht ;  und  ist  Flatus  Miles  nachmahls  zu  Mes- 
selia  ein  Oberster,  und  in  der  Stadt  Rom  vor  Konigs  Dittrichs  von 
Bern,  Zeit,  zum  fiinfften  mahl  Consul,  oder  Biirger-Meister  gewe- 
sen.  Als  er  nun  fiinff  und  sibenzig  Jahr  alt  worden,  hat  er  sich 
bekehret,  und  harte  bekummert,  dass  er  sein  Leben  von  Jugend  an 
iibel  verzehret:  und  hat  mit  Verlassung  der  Welt  angefangen,  dem 
Herren  Jesu  zu  dinen,  und  ihn  zu  bekennen:  Hat  geistliche  Lider 
gedichtet,  di  noch  vorhanden;  nemlich  vom  Kampffe  der  Seelen 
wider  di  Siinden,  vom  Ursprung  der  Siinden,  von  der  Gottwerdung, 
vom  Leyden  der  Martyrer  und  Zeugen  Christi;  Insonderheit  hat  er 
geistliche  Kirchen-Gesange  geschriben  und  gemachet;  welche  Ge- 
sange  man  auff  disen  Tag  zum  Theil  singet.  Er  hat  gelebet  zur 
Zeit  Hironimi,  Ambrosi  und  Augustini ;  und  zur  Zeit  als  di  Gothen, 
das  ist,  di  Deutschen,  und  andere  fremde  Kriges-Volker,  Roma, 
Italia,  und  das  gantze  Konigreich,  durch  Krig  verderbet  haben ;  ehe 
denn  das  Pabsthum  angefangen:  Aber  Apostasia  (Abfall)  und  kraff- 
tige  Irrthum  schon  gewaltig  auff  der  Bahn  waren:  Denn  di  Lehrer 

19  For  New  High  German  "besser." 


68  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

des  Volkes,  mit  ihrer  Philosophia  und  Sophisterey,  batten  angefan- 
gen  den  Herren  Christum  zu  verdunkeln;  welcher  Irrthum  biss  auff 
den  heutigen  Tag  immer  krafftiger  worden,  und  gewachsen ;  wi  PRU- 
DENTIUS  von  Apotbeosie,  in  dem  Lide  von  den  Lehrern  di  das  Volk 
verfiihren,21  zu  erkennen  gibet.  (AURELIUS  PRUDENTIUS.) 

"Diesem  alibi  gemeldten  PRUDENTI  Gesang-Biichlein,  seind  ein- 
verleibet,  viler  von  Gott  hocherleuchteter  Christglaubiger,  gelehrter 
und  ungelehrter  Manner,  Lider  und  Gedichte;  derer  Nahmen  zum 
Theil  alibi  gemeldet  werden  sollen :  Als  :  I.  Reimund  Wekker.  II. 
Adam  Reissner.  III.  George  Frell.  IV.  Daniel  Sudermann.  V. 
Antonius  Oelsner.  VI.  George  Heydrich.  VII.  Martin  John,  der 
jiingere,  und  vil  andere  Zeugen  und  Bekenner  der  Glorien  Christi, 
welche  di  Wahrheit  alle  aus  einem  Hertzen,  als  mit  einem  Munde, 
Gott  zur  Ehr,  und  den  Menschen  zu  ihrer  Erbauung  bekennt,  be- 
zeugt,  und  davon  gesungen  haben. 

"Zum  andern  ist  disem  Gesang-Buche  auch  einverleibet  wor 
den,  das  grosse  Gesang-Buch,  der  so  genannten  Picarden,  oder  Bo- 
heimischen  Briider,  welches  erstlichen  von  Michael  Weiss  angefan- 
gen:  nachmahls  aber  von  Johann  Horn,  gemehret  und  verandert: 
Von  welcher  Veranderung  ein  Gottesgelehrter  S.  E.22  schreibet,  dass 
er  einen  neuen  Abgott  damit  auffgerichtet  habe:  welcher,  wi  ich 
hoffe,  allhir  wider  abgethan  seyn  wird.  Welch  Gesang-Buch  her- 
nach  abermahls  von  vilen  Lehrern  ihres  Theils  vermehret  zu  einem 
grossen  Werke.  Deren  Nahmen  in  ihrem  Gesang-Buche  an  ihrem 
Orte  stehen ;  welche  gutte  Poeten  und  Dichter  sind  gewesen,  wi  ihre 
Gesange  ausweisen;  welche  von  vilen  fromen  gottglaubigen  Men 
schen  mit  Libe  und  Lust,  nicht  ohne  grossen  Nutz,  sind  gesungen 
und  betrachtet  worden. 

"Zum  dritten,  sind  disem  Buch  auch  einverleibet,  der  so  ge- 
nanten  Evangelischen  oder  Lutherischen,  und  Reformirten  Gesange, 
welche  zum  Thcil  di  biblischen  Geschichte  und  Psalmen  Davids,  auch 
vil  andere  ni'rtzliche  Sachen,  innen  halten;  deren  Poeten  Nahmen 
auch  an  vilen  Orten,  und  sonderlich  im  grossen  Niirnbergischen  Ge 
sang-Buche,  gedacht  wird;  welche  allhi  mit  Willen  aussen  gelassen 
sind,  weil  man  nicht  allwege  bey  ihren  Worten  und  Sinn  bliben  ist, 


1  This  hymn  is  contained  in  the  manuscript  volume  of  1758,  p.  888. 
'Samuel  Eisenmenger  (?). 


ORIGIN  OF  SCHWENKFELDER  HYMN-BOOK  69 

sondern  einen  wi  ich  hoffe,  der  SchrifTt  gemassern,  und  dem  Glau- 
ben  ahnlichern  Sinn,  dafiir  eingeschoben. 

"Zum  virdten  sind  ihm  auch  einverleibet  worden,  Gesange  iiber 
alle  erklarte  Evangelia  durchs  gantze  Jahr;  iiber  welche  di  eigne 
Vorrede  hirnechst  folget : 23 

"Es  soil  Nimand  meinen,  dass  disc,  in  disem  Tractatu  stehende 
Lider  und  Gesange  iiber  di  Evangelia,  Ruhm  oder  Lob  zu  suchen, 
ausgegeben  sind ;  Weil  auch  dessen  damit  wenig  zu  erlangen  wiirde 
seyn :  Und  bey  denen  Christen  Ruhm-  und  Ehr-sucht,  vornehmlich 
in  solchen  Dingen,  nur  ein  Pharisaisches  Werk  ist.  Auch  sind  si 
nicht  ausgegeben,  sich  mit  Zirlichkeit  und  hochprachtigen  Reim- 
Arten  sehen  zu  lassen;  welche  hirin  nicht  zu  finden,  sondern  denen 
studirten  Poeten  iiberlassen;  sondern  si  sind  auch  aus  der  Einfalt 
ausgegeben  und  hervorkommen :  Achte  auch  dafiir,  dass  si  von  der 
Einfalt  am  besten  konnen  betrachtet  werden.  Sind  aber  aus  keiner 
andern  Ursach  ausgegeben,  als  di  Reden  und  Thaten  Christi,  dem 
Einfaltigen  desto  besser  ins  Gedachtniiss  zu  bringen,  diweil  di  Evan- 
gelisten  solchen  Fleiss  angewand,  solches  zu  bezeugen  und  zu  be- 
schreiben,  di  Christen  desto  gewisser  zu  machen,  in  dem  was  von 
Christo  zu  halten  und  zu  glauben  ist,  wi  Lucas  Cap.  I.  an  Thiophilum 
bezeuget.  So  achte  ich  auch  dafiir  dass  keine  niizlichere  tlbung  ist, 
als  di  Worte,  Reden  und  Thaten  Christi  zu  meditiren  und  zu  be- 
trachten,  weil  si  der  andern  Glaubigen  Lehr  und  Thaten  weit  iiber- 
treffen;  ob  si  wohl  auch  von  dem  Heiligen  getriben,  solches  gethan, 
so  sind  doch  in  den  Reden  und  Thaten  Christi  di  allerbesten  und 
vornehmlichsten  Lehren,  Vermahnungen,  Trostungen  und  Warnun- 
gen,  enthalten  und  begriffen;  welche  auch  von  alien  Christen,  am 
fleissigsten  sollen  gemeditirt,  betrachtet  und  geiibet  werden.  Aus 
soldier  und  keiner  andern  Ursache  sind  disc  Gesange  iiber  di  Evan 
gelia  heraus  gegeben,  unss  in  der  Einfalt  darin  zu  iiben,  di  Lehren, 
Vermahnungen,  Trostungen  und  Warnungen  Christi  desto  bekannter 
zu  machen:  Welches  aber  ohne  des  Geistes  Gottes  Wiirkung  und 
Beystand  nicht  geschehen  kan,  so  wolle  derselbige  aus  seiner  Gnade 
verleyen  und  geben,  dass  wir  si  zum  Lobe  Gottes  und  zu  unserer  Er- 
bauung,  singen,  betrachten  und  iiben!  Wenn  si  aber  Imande  vor 
kamen,  der  si  unniitze  und  unnotig  achtete,  bitte  ich,  er  wolle  si 

23  The  remainder  of  this  excerpt  is  the  preface  written  by  George  Weiss 
for  his  metrical  versions  of  the  gospel-lessons. 


^o  SCHWENKFELDER    HYMNOLOGY 

clenen  lassen,  di  si  ihnen  wissen  niitze  zu  machen.  Kommen  si  aber 
Imande  vor,  der  ihm  einen  Ntitzen  daran  ersihet,  der  sage  Gott 
Lob  und  Dank  darum  ;  weil  Gotte  f  iir  alle  Gaben  zu  danken  ist,  si 
sind  natiirlich  oder  geistlich;  und  lasse  sich  urn  den  Author  unbe- 
ktimmert,  weil  er  si  nur  fiir  sich  und  die  Seinigen,  welche  es  auch 
hertzlich  verlanget  haben  ausgegeben  hat.  Gott  wolle  uns  seinen 
Geist,  den  Geist  der  Gnaden  und  Andacht,  um  Jesu  Christi  seines 
liben  Sohnes  willen  geben  und  verleyen,  dass  wir  si  singen,  be- 
trachten  und  gebrauchen,  zu  seinem  Lob,  Preiss  und  Ehren,  und  uns 
zu  unsrer  Seelen  Heil  und  Seeligkeit.  Amen." 

With  respect  to  the  classification  of  the  individual  hymns, 
two  distinguishing  features  serve  to  characterize  the  collection 
of  Caspar  Weiss.  First:  The  hymns  are  arranged,  not  accord 
ing  to  theme  or  rubric,  but  in  agreement  with  the  course  of  the 
ecclesiastical  year  —  a  group  of  hymns  being  arranged  for  each 
Sunday  and  holy-day  in  the  calendar  year,  beginning  with  the 
first  Sunday  of  Advent.  Moreover,  a  close  study  of  the  classi 
fication  reveals  the  fact,  that  the  compiler  intended  that  each 
hymn  should,  as  far  as  possible,  be  peculiarly  appropriate  to  the 
particular  day  to  which  it  was  assigned.  Secondly,  the  hymns 
thus  set  apart  for  each  Sunday  and  holy-day  are  further  ar 
ranged  into  two  groups  :  one  group  being  designed  for  use  in  the 
morning  worship,  and  the  other  in  connection  with  afternoon  or 
evening  devotions.24  It  may  also  be  observed,  in  conclusion,  that 
the  completed  compilation  was  designed  primarily  for  the  use  of 
the  author's  own  family.  This  fact  is  noted  by  the  Rev.  Bal- 
thaser  Hoffmann  in  his  account  of  the  collection,  quoted  above, 
and  is  also  plainly  stated  on  the  title-page  of  the  original  collec 
tion  itself.25 

The  following  general  classification  of  the  hymns  compiled 
by  Caspar  Weiss—  on  the  basis  of  authorship—  is  suggested  in 
the  introduction  to  the  manuscript  volume  of  1758:  (i)  the 


uS1-?6..0"??^!  collection>  the  titles  given  the  sub-groups  for  each  day 
are  :  "Fruhe"  and  "Vesper." 

"Compare  number  xxv  of  our  Descriptive  Bibliography. 


ORIGIN  OF  SCHWENKFELDER  HYMN-BOOK  71 

Psalmen  or  Psalm-Lieder,  namely,  metrical  versions  of  the  150 
Psalms;  by  Cornelius  Becker,  Adam  Reissner,  Martin  John  and 
others;  (2)  the  so-called  Biblische  Geschichte,  namely,  a  sum 
mary,  in  verse,  of  the  more  significant  events  of  Biblical  his 
tory,  most  of  the  hymns  of  this  series  having  been  written  by 
Adam  Reissner;  (3)  the  Evangeliums-Gesange,  to  wit,  the  met 
rical  versions  of  the  gospel  lessons,  by  George  Weiss;  and  (4) 
a  miscellany,  constituting  the  remainder  of  the  compilation,  and 
composed  of  518  hymns  taken  from  numerous  Schwenkfelder, 
Moravian,  Lutheran  and  Reformed  hymn-writers.  Following 
is  a  complete  list  of  the  writers  of  these  miscellaneous  hymns, 
together  with  the  number  of  hymns  each  has  contributed.  In 
this  table  we  include  also  a  register  of  the  initials  of  these 
authors,  as  they  appear  written  beside  the  hymns  in  the  manu 
script  folio  volume  of  the  year  1758,  in  the  folio  volume  by  the 
Rev.  Christopher  Hoffmann  (1760),  and  in  a  limited  number  of 
copies  of  the  Saur  edition : 

A.  v.  Fr.  Abraham  von  Franckenberg  I 

A.  K.  Andreas  Knophius  2 

A.  Oe.  Antonius  Oelsner  6 

A.  P.  Aurelius  Prudentius  23 

A.  R.  Adam  Reissner  24 

B.  Herx.  Bernhard  Herxheimer  I 
B.  R.                          Bartholomeus  Ringwald                                       2 

B.  W.  Burghard  Waldis  I 

D.  C.  C.  (Doctor)  Caspar  Creutziger  I 

C.  H.  Conrad  Hubert  I 
C.  K.                           Christian  Keymann  I 

C.  S.  Centurio  Syrutsko  3 

D.  S.  Daniel  Sudermann  I 

E.  A.  Erasmus  Alberus  I 
Er.  Heg.                     Erhard  Hegenwald                                                 I 


72  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

G.  F.  George  Frell  9 

G.  H.  George  Heydrich  2 

G.  N.  George  Neumarck  I 

G.  R.  George  Richter  I 

G.  V.  George  Vetterus  4 

G.  W.  George  Weiss  2 

H.  V.  Henrich  Vogter  I 

J.  A.  Johann  Angelus  I 

J.  F.  Johann  Freder  I 

J.  Gel.  Johann  Geletzky  13 

J.  Gig.  Johann  Gigas  8 

J.  Gir.  Johann  Girkius  4 

J.  He.  Johann  Hermann  3 

J.  Ho.  Johann  Horn  22 

J.  Hu.  Johann  Huss  3 

D.  J.  J.  (Doctor)  Justus  Jonas 

J.  K.  Johann  Koritansky 

J.  R.  W.  Johann  Raimund  Weckher 

J.  Steg.  Joseph  Stegmann 

L.  H.  Ludwig  Helmbold 

L.  L.  Lucas  Libanus 

L.  Eo.  Ludwig  Oeler  2 

Mg.  Alb.  Marggraff  Albrecht  2 

M.  C.  Martin  Cornelius  2 

M.  G.  Mattheus  Greyter  2 

M.  J.  Martin  John  40 

D.  M.  L.  (Doctor)  Martin  Luther  15 

M.  M.  Martin  Mollerus  3 

Martin  Polycarpus  7 

Martin  Schalling  I 

M.  T.  Michael  Tham  14 

M-  W.  Michael  Weiss  124 

Nicolaus  Hermann  8 

D-  N-  S.  (Doctor)  Nicolaus  Selnecker  i 


ORIGIN  OF  SCHWENKFELDER  HYMN-BOOK  73 

P.  E.  Paulus  Eberus  2 

P.  H.  Petrus  Herbertus  68 

P.  S.  Paulus  Speratus  2 

St.  Aug.  Saint  Augustine  I 

St.  Bern.  Saint  Bernhardus  2 

S.  H.  Sebald  Heiden  i 

S.  W.  Siegmund  Weingartner  I 

Tr.  (Valentin)  Triller.  16 

V.  S.  Valentinus  Schultz  3 

V.  W.  Valentinus  Weigelius  i 

•  •  ;*  i.ii»  -•    *          :'"  .'^vv«* 

W.  M.  Wolfgang  Mosel  I 

Anonymous  49 

Summarizing  now,  in  accordance  with  the  above  classifica 
tion,  the  complete  collection  of  Caspar  Weiss  consisted  of  the 
"Psalmen,"  numbering  216  hymns;  the  "Biblische  Geschichte," 
28  hymns;  the  "Evangeliums-Gesange,"  112  hymns;  and  a  com 
pilation  representing  a  variety  of  rubrics  and  numbering  518 
hymns.  Total,  874  hymns.  The  complete  list  of  these  hymns, 
which  had  been  prepared  for  this  chapter,  it  has  been  necessary 
to  omit. 


CHAPTER  VI 
GEORGE  WEISS:  WRITER  AND  COMPILER  OF  HYMNS. 

Our  bibliographical  account  of  Rev.  George  Weiss,  the 
first  minister  of  the  Schwenkfelders  in  America,  has  been  re 
duced  to  the  minimum,  both  in  order  to  save  space,  and  also 
because  the  sources  cited  in  the  footnote  below  will  furnish  the 
reader  a  sufficient  life-sketch  of  the  subject  of  our  study  in  this 
chapter.  As  already  noted,  he  was  the  son  of  Caspar  Weiss, 
whose  work  on  behalf  of  Schwenkf elder  hymnology  we  have 
just  considered.  He  was  born  at  Harpersdorf,  in  Silesia,  1687, 
and  died  within  the  present  limits  of  Lower  Salford  township, 
Montgomery  County,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  eleventh  of  March, 
1740. 

Like  his  father,  he  was  admirably  fitted  for  the  work  of 
a  hymnodist.  He  had  a  natural  bent  for  the  writing  of  poetry, 
although  unfortunately  he  never  received  training  in  the  poetic 
art — a  fact  which  he  himself  lamented  frequently,  both  in  his 
efforts  as  a  compiler  of  hymns,  as  well  as  when  acting  in  the 
role  of  a  hymn  writer.  He  had  rendered  his  father  much  as 
sistance  in  transcribing  and  compiling  the  hymns  of  the  collec 
tion  of  1709.  He  was  versed  in  three  of  the  ancient  languages 
—Hebrew,  Greek  and  Latin.  Being  of  pious  parentage,  he  was 
early  indoctrinated  with  Biblical  principles,  as  well  as  grounded 
in  the  creed  and  tenets  of  Caspar  von  Schwenkfeld.  Indeed, 
it  may  safely  be  said  that  there  has  never  been  a  more  intensely 
spiritual  Schwenkfelder  than  George  Weiss.1 

The  following  brief  account  of  George  Weiss,  extant  in 
manuscript,  may  be  submitted  in  this  connection;  inasmuch  as 
it  is  here  published  for  the  first  time,  and  also  because  it  was 
penned  by  his  co-eval  and  lifelong  bosom  friend,  Rev.  Balthaser 
Hoffmann.  It  bears  the  date  of  1753. 

*For  an  account  of  the  literary  and  ministerial  activity  of  Rev.  George 
Weiss,  see :  H.  W.  Kriebel,  The  Schwenkfelders  in  Pennsylvania,  pp.  56ff.  and 
i86ff.    Genealogical  Record  of  the  Schwenkfelders,  pp.  xxiii  and  1-3. 
(74) 


GEORGE    WEISS  75 

"George  Weiss  war  gebiihrtig  von  Harpersdorff,  einem  Dorffe 
im  Fiirstenthum  Lignitz  in  Schlesien ;  sein  Vater  hat  geheissen  Cas 
par  Weiss,  von  Deutmanns-Dorff  gebiihrtig;  seine  Mutter  Anna, 
eine  gebohrne  Andersin,  gebiihrtig  von  Harpersdorff,  alle  beyde 
schlecht,2  arm  und  unansehnlich  vor  der  Welt.  George  hatte  einen 
Bruder  mit  Nahmen  Caspar,  und  eine  Schwester  mit  Nahmen  Ma 
ria;  sind  alle  beyde  in  bester  Jugend  in  Schlesien  gestorben.  Im 
Jahr  1715  hat  er  sich  in  Ehestand  begeben,  sein  Weib  hat  Anna  ge 
heissen,  eine  gebohrne  Meschterin,  gebiihrtig  von  Langen-Neundorff ; 
diselbe  ist  biss  in  das  3  Land  mit  gekommen,  und  bald  nach  der  An- 
kunfft  in  Philadelphia  gestorben,  ligt  daselbst  auff  dem  Pilgrims- 
Begrabniiss  in  der  Erde.4  Ein  Sohnlein  haben  si  mit  einander  ge- 
zeuget,  und  ist  genant  worden  Abraham ;  ist  in  seinem  andren  Jahr 
ihnen  schon  wider  entnommen;  ist  er  also  in  disem  Lande  gantz 
arm,  einfaltig  und  allein,  und  vor  der  Welt  unwerth  gewesen.  Weil 
er  denn  in  heiliger  Schrifft  einen  zihmlichen  Fleiss  gehabt,  und  einen 
Willen  zu  Gott  und  seiner  Ehren ;  wiwohl  aber  auch  mit  viler 
Schwachheit  und  Verhinderniiss,  hat  ihm  Gott  aber  ein  herrlich 
Maass,  Gabe  und  Pfund  verlihen,  zu  einem  Aufschluss  der  heiligen 
Schrifft,  der  Geheimniisse  Gottes,  und  zum  Unterscheide  der  reinen 
Christliche  Theologia,  in  diser  letzten  verwirrten  Zeit.  *  *  * 
Also  ist  er  demnach  unter  unss  zu  einem  Vorsteher,  als  in  Ordnung 
einer  Gemein,  zu  einem  Handleiter  des  Bekantniisses,  Zu  einem 
Wegweiser  im  christlichen  Leben,  und  zu  einem  Anfiihrer  der  Ju 
gend  angenommen  worden,  in  Bezeugung  dass  er  fahig  dazu  er- 
kannt  wiirde,  dass  er  solches  vermoge;  da  er  denn  nach  seinem  Er- 
kantniiss,  mit  Berathung  und  Befragung  seines  Gewissens  und  mit 
vilem  Seuffzen  zu  Gott  eine  Ordnung  und  Einrichtung  gestellet,  und 
einen  solchen  Eyffer  um  Gott  dabey  bezeiget,  dass  auch  wohl  einige 
Kennzeichen  sich  geaussert und  itberzeugende  Merkmahle  ge 
wesen,  dass  ein  solcher  Weg  richtig der  grade  Buss-Weg  zur 

Seeligkeit  ist,  nehmlich,  eine  gantzliche  Erkantniiss  und  Absterbung 
des  Verderbniisses,  in  wahrer  Dehmutt,  Thranen  und  Gebet;  Auf- 
opfferung  und  Ergebung  in  den  Willen  Gottes,  und  solches  alle 

->.*  t«'['^; 

2  i.  e.,  "schlicht." 

3  i.  e.,  America. 

4  The  cemetery  referred  to,  if  still  existing,  has  not  been  identified.     It 
may  have  been  a  burial-place  since  abolished. 


^6  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

Tage  zu  erneuern ;  fleissige  t)bung  in  heiliger  Schrifft,  mit  taglichem 
Gebett  urn  Aufschluss  gottlicher  Geheimnuss,  und  urn  Gnade  zur 
Besserung  und  Verneuerung  des  Lebens,  nach  Anweisung  der  heili- 
gen  Schrifft  etc.  Da  er  denn  solchen  Dinst  mit  hertzlichem  Eyffer 
nm  Gott  und  der  Menschen  Seeligkeit  4  Jahr  gepflogen,  hat  das  letzte 
Jahr  seine  Natur  zihmlich  abgenommen,  auch  durch  eine  Krankheit, 
seines  Todes  Erinnerung  geschehen,  hat  er  aber  bey  aller  Schwach- 
heit  seinen  Fleiss,  sovil  als  es  moglichsten  mochte  seyn  getham,  biss 
eine  Woche  vor  seinem  Ende  er  bettlagrich  worden.  Seine  Krank 
heit  bestunde  meistens  in  Mattigkeit,  und  ein  wenig  Seitenstechen, 
wtirde  ein  Magen-Fiber  genennt,  dass  er  keinen  Schmakk  mehr  zum 
Essen  hatte,  machte  ihm  auch  hefftige  Beschwerde  im  Leibe,  ist  also 
mit  gutter  Besonnenheit  1740,  den  n.  Mertz,  im  53.  Jahr  seines 
Alters  auss  der  Zeit  abgefordert,  und  also  zur  Erden  bestattet  wor 
den,  ligt  begraben  zu  Schippach  auff  dem  Lande  George  Jakkels.5" 

Translation : 

"George  Weiss  was  born  in  Harpersdorf,  a  village  in  the  prin 
cipality  of  Liegnitz  in  Silesia;  his  father  was  Caspar  Weiss,  born 
in  Deutmannsdorf ;  his  mother  Anna  (nee)  Anders,  born  in  Har 
persdorf,  and  both  were  plain,  poor  and  insignificant,  as  the  world 
goes.  George  had  a  brother  named  Caspar,  and  a  sister,  Mary ;  both 
died  in  Silesia  in  the  bloom  of  youth.  In  1715  he  married.  His 
wife  was  Anna  (nee)  Meschter,  born  in  Langen-Neundorff ;  she 
accompanied  him  to  this  country,  and  died  shortly  after  the  landing 
at  Philadelphia.  She  is  buried  there  in  the  Pilgrims'  cemetery. 
They  had  an  infant  son  whom  they  named  Abraham,  who  was  taken 
from  them  in  his  second  year.  So  that  in  this  country  he  was 
quite  poor  and  alone,  a  plain  man  and,  as  the  world  goes,  unim 
portant.  But  because  he  exhibited  a  seemly  zeal  for  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  and  was  minded  to  please  God  and  honor  Him  (although 
in  great  frailty  and  in  the  face  of  many  obstacles)  God  vouchsafed 
to  him  in  magnificent  measure  a  talent  for  interpreting  Holy  Writ, 
for  disclosing  the  mysteries  of  God  and  for  discerning  sound  Chris 
tian  doctrine,  in  these  latter  doubtful  days.  *  *  *  For  this  rea 
son,  he  was  chosen  as  our  head  (regarding  ourselves  as  a  congrega- 

c  u"T1?e?'i?  PriYate  burying-ground.  Now  the  cemetery  of  the  Lower  Salford 
Schwenkfelder  church. 


GEORGE    WEISS  77 

tion),  as  our  chief  in  our  Confession  of  Faith,  as  our  leader  in 
Christian  living,  and  as  the  guide  of  our  youth.  Thereby  we  attested 
that  his  qualification  for  these  duties  was  recognized.  And  having 
(in  accordance  with  his  judgment,  and  after  consultation  with  his 
conscience  and  long  agonizing  before  God)  arranged  a  plan  for  re 
ligious  services  and  an  order  of  worship,  and  having  manifested 
therewith  such  a  zeal  for  God  that  certain  signs  and  indications  ap 
peared  of  the  correctness  of  such  a  course,  the  direct  course  to 
salvation  through  penitence ;  namely,  a  full  apprehension  and  morti 
fication  of  our  depravity,  in  true  humility,  sorrow  and  prayer;  self- 
sacrifice  and  surrender  to  the  will  of  God,  and  the  daily  renewal  of 
these  things ;  the  zealous  practice  of  Scriptural  discipline,  with  daily 
supplication  for  the  unlocking  of  the  divine  mysteries  and  for  grace 
for  the  mending  and  renewing  of  our  lives,  under  the  direction  of 

the  Scriptures having  conducted  such  a  ministry  for  four  years, 

with  a  true  passion  for  God  and  the  salvation  of  men,  during  the 
last  year  his  strength  failed  appreciably,  and  a  subsequent  illness 
warned  him  of  his  approaching  end.  But  in  spite  of  his  frailty  he 
continued  zealous,  in  as  far  as  this  was  at  all  possible,  up  to  a  week 
before  his  death,  when  he  became  confined  to  his  bed.  His  illness 
was  chiefly  of  the  nature  of  exhaustion,  with  some  pleurisy  (it  was 
said  to  be  gastric  fever).  He  had  no  desire  for  food  and  suffered 
intense  pains  in  the  abdomen.  And  thus  on  the  eleventh  of  March, 
1740,  in  full  possession  of  his  faculties  and  in  the  fifty-third  year 
of  his  age,  he  was  called  away,  and  his  body  was  conveyed  to  its 
interment.  He  is  buried  at  Schippach  on  a  plot  of  ground  belonging 
to  George  Yeakel." 

The  relation  which  George  Weiss  sustains  to  the  hymnody 
of  the  Schwenkfelders  is  three- fold :  First,  as  a  writer  of  hymns  ; 
second,  as  a  reviser  of  hymns ;  and  third,  as  a  transcriber  and  com 
piler.  Of  his  activity  as  a  hymn  writer,  barely  an  outline  can 
be  given  here;  to  wit,  (i)  "Gesange  uber  die  Evangelia"  (1709) 
— metrical  versions  of  the  "Gospel  Lessons"  for  the  entire  eccle 
siastical  year;  (2)  "Meditationes"  (ca.  1724 — 30 ),6  being  sev- 

e  Each  proper  name  treated  is  given  in  Hebrew,  Greek,  Latin  and  German. 
Then  follow  the  references  containing  the  Biblical  account  of  the  character 
under  consideration.  Then  the  "Meditatio"  in  the  form  of  a  hymn. 


78  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

eral  series  of  hymns  based  on  the  names  of  numerous  Bible 
characters— the  patriarchs,  the  prophets,  the  genealogy  of  Christ 
as  given  in  Matthew,  the  genealogy  of  Christ  as  recorded  by 
Luke,  and  the  apostles — each  group  becomes  the  basis  of  a  series 
of  hymns;  and  (3)  his  revision  of  the  hymns  of  Daniel  Suder- 
mann.7  This  revision  consisted  of  a  restrophicising  of  a  number 
of  the  Sudermann  hymns,  and  the  addition,  to  the  majority  of 
the  hymns,  of  one  or  more  strophes  intended  as  a  prayer 
(Seufzer). 

Of  the  hymnological  studies  of  George  Weiss — studies  that 
were  both  extensive  and  productive  of  valuable  information— 
our  space  forbids  us  to  speak.  Neither  does  this  phase  of  his 
activity  properly  belong  to  the  scope  of  the  present  work.  It 
is  in  his  role  as  the  promoter  of  the  work  begun  by  Caspar 
Weiss,  his  father,  that  he  demands  consideration  here.  It  was 
about  the  year  1726,  when  George  Weiss  took  up  the  task  of  re 
arranging  and  enlarging  the  hymn  collection  of  1709.  The  ad 
dition  which  was  at  this  time  made  to  the  original  collection, 
was  composed  chiefly  of  three  series  of  hymns;  each  complete 
in  itself  and  written  by  as  many  authors.  The  series  in  question 
were :  ( i )  The  hymns  of  Daniel  Sudermann  which  Weiss  had 
revised — a  series  of  hymns  interpreting  the  Song  of  Solomon; 
(2)  the  "Epistel-lieder"  so-called,  by  Balthaser  Hoffmann — be 
ing  a  series  of  metrical  versions  of  the  "Epistle-lessons,"  com 
plete  for  the  church  year;  (3)  the  "Meditationes,"  which  we 
have  already  characterized.  The  other  hymns  added  by  George 
Weiss  to  the  first  collection  constitute  a  miscellany  representing 
various  Moravian  and  Lutheran  hymn  writers,  as  well  as  the 
early  church  fathers.  The  complete  list  of  the  hymns  of  this 
miscellany,  which  had  been  prepared  for  this  chapter,  it  has 
been  necessary  to  omit. 

With  respect  to  the  plan  of  arrangement,  it  should  be  noted 
that  the  compilation  made  by  George  Weiss  differs  from  that 

7  The  Sudermann  hymns  based  on  the  Song  of  Solomon.     See  our  De 
scriptive  Bibliography. 


GEORGE    WEISS  79 

of  1709  in  two  important  features:  First,  the  hymns  selected 
for  each  Sunday  and  holy  day  are  further  arranged  into  four 
groups  having  the  titles  "Friihe,"  "Vor-Mittage,"  "Nach-Mit- 
tage"  and  "Kinder-Lehr,"  the  second  and  third  of  these  groups 
corresponding  to  the  two-fold  division  of  the  collection  of  Cas 
par  Weiss;  second,  the  individual  hymns  are  classified  on  the 
basis  of  metrical  structure — as  far  as  was  practicable,  hymns 
with  the  same  type  of  verse  and  the  same  or  a  similar  strophic 
structure,  having  been  grouped  together.  Moreover,  verse  for 
verse,  the  syllables  were  carefully  counted  in  order  to  exclude 
entirely  the  hiatus  and  to  leave  not  a  hymn  with  an  imperfect 
line.8  As  hinted  above,  the  arrangement  of  the  hymn-groups  by 
Sundays  and  holy  days — one  characteristic,  as  we  have  seen,  of 
the  original  compilation — was  retained  by  the  second  compiler. 
In  the  earliest  manuscript  of  this  collection  known  to  exist 
there  are,  unfortunately,  missing  from  the  preface  those  pages 
which  contained  the  compiler's  own  account  of  the  sources  with 
which  he  was  operating  when  enlarging  the  original  collection. 
However,  the  loss  is  luckily  repaired  in  part  by  the  following 
account  of  the  second  compilation,  extant  in  the  already  cited 
surviving  manuscript  of  Balthaser  Hoffmann.  The  passage  con 
tains,  also,  Hoffmann's  statement  of  the  re-arrangement  which 
the  first  collection  underwent  in  the  hands  of  George  Weiss,  the 
second  compiler.  We  quote  Hoffmann  in  full  : 

"Lange  darnach  g  und  nach  Caspar  Weissens  Tode,  und  beson- 
ders  zur  Zeit  des  Mission,10  meditirte  und  schrib  auff,  George  Weiss 
di  Meditationes  tiber  di  Nahmen  der  Geschlechte  in  Matheo  und 
Luca,  und  di  andern  Nahmen;  welche  er  erst  in  Sachsen,  nach  der 
ersten  Emigration  1X  verfertigte.  Darnach  in  Sachsen,  in  der  Stille 


8  The  natural  word-stress  is  frequently  disregarded— in  accordance  with 
the  literary  traditions  of  the  Sixteenth  and  Seventeenth  Centuries,  when  such 
verse  was  not  considered  imperfect.  Compare  the  "Knittelvers"  of  Hans 
Sachs. 

•«.  e.,  after  1709.  In  the  Hoffmann  manuscript  this  citation  is  a  continua 
tion  of  the  one  given  on  page  63$. 

10  The  Jesuit  Mission  in  Silesia.    Opened  in  the  year  1719. 

"The   Schwenkf elders    (about   170   families),   to   escape  the  net  of  the 


8O  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

und  fiir  sich,  zu  einer  Hauss-Ubung,  weil  er  still  und  geruhig  lebte, 
und  den  Sonntag  und  di  Zeit  der  Feyer  suchte  anzuwenden,  und  eine 
t)bung  zu  haben,  hat  er  das  erste  Werk  vermehret,  und  in  Vier  sonn- 
tagliche  Abtheilungen  geordnet,  wi  es  nun  am  Tage  ligt ;  auch  kamen 
dehmahls  dazu,  di  Lider  iiber  di  Episteln,12  welche  Vermehrung 
auch  in  der  Vorrede  weiter  mit  gedacht  ist;  hat  auch  dahmahls  di 
Bitten  zum  Beschluss  der  Lider  Daniel  Sudermanns  gestellet.  Nun 
ist  aber  bey  dieser  Ordnung,  und  Eintheilung  der  Lider  zu  merken, 
dass  er  di  Absicht  nicht  hat  gehabt  dabey,  dass  es  zu  einer  Nachmach- 
ung  seyn  soil  (wi  nun  gefolget  ist)  ob  es  auch  wohl  bey  seiner  Leb- 
ens-Zeit  (auch  ich  selber)  abgescriben;  sondern  er  pflegte  es  zu  seiner 
t)bung  in  der  Stille;  und  nahm  Vor-Mittage  und  Nach-Mittage,  di 
Bekantesten ;  zu  den  andern  zwey  Abtheilungen  aber  di  Fremdesten. 
Und  zwar  ordnete  er  es,  dass  wi  weit  es  mochte  angehen,  eine  gleiche 
Vile  1S  im  Singen  war ;  daher  zehlete  er  di  Syllabon  an  den  Gesan- 
gen,  und  nahm  denn  einen  Gesang  hiher,  und  einen  andern  dorthin ; 
daher  ist  geschehen,  dass  di  Lehre  der  Gesange,  denn  nicht  auifein- 
ander  zustimmet.  Sonst  weiss  ich  wohl,  dass  wenn  er  gewust,  dass  es 
solte  zu  einem  daurenden  Werke  seyn,  er  es  wiirde  anders  einge- 
richtet  haben;  wi  er  auch  einmahl  zu  mir  gesaget:  Wenn  ichs  izt 
solte  einrichten,  es  konte  seyn,  dass  manch  Lid  nicht  dazu  kame. 
Discs  hinterlasse  ich  nicht,  um  G.  Weissens  Werk  zu  tadeln,  oder 
untikhtig  zu  machen,  sondern  um  richtiges  Wissens  Willen.  B.  H, 
1753- 

Translation : 

"Long  afterwards  and  after  the  death  of  Caspar  Weiss,  and 
especially  at  the  time  of  the  Mission,  George  Weiss  wrote  his  "Medi- 
tationes"  on  the  names  of  the  generations  in  Matthew  and  Luke, 
and  the  other  names.  Not  until  after  the  first  emigration,  in  Saxony, 
were  they  completed.  Thereafter  in  Saxony,  privately,  and  for  his 
own  use  and  that  of  his  household,  because  he  led  a  quiet  life  and 


Jesuits,  fled  to  Silesia  by  night  in  1726,  escaping  to  the  Oberlausitz  in  Saxony. 
Here  they  were  protected  by  Count  von  Zinzendorf,  the  Moravian  bishop,  for 
8  years. 

12  Written  by  Rev.  Balthaser  Hoffmann. 

3  "Count"  or  number  of  syllables.  Daniel  Sudermann  occasionally  uses 
this  feminine  noun,  "die  Vile"  (=  number  or  large  number).  Cf.  Wacker- 
nagel,  I,  683. 


GEORGE    WEISS  8 1 

sought  to  make  good  use  of  Sundays  and  holydays,  and  also  for  the 
training,  he  enlarged  the  first  collection,  making  a  fourfold  division 
of  the  hymns  for  each  Sunday,  as  it  still  exists.     At  that  time  the 
hymns  on  the  Epistle  lessons  also  were  added;  and  this  augmenta 
tion  receives  further  mention  in  the  preface.    He  also  wrote  at  this 
time  the  prayer  strophes  intended  as  addenda  to  the  hymns  of  Daniel 
Sudermann.     But  with  regard  to  the  arrangement  of  this  collection, 
it  should  be  noted,  that  he  had  no  thought  that  it  would  be  imitated 
(as  has  been  the  case),  although  it  was  transcribed  in  his  life-time, 
and  I  too  have  transcribed  it ;  but  he  prepared  it  for  his  own  private 
use.    And  for  the  divisions  "Vor-Mittage"  and  "Nach-Mittage"  he 
chose  the  more  familiar,  for  the  other  two  divisions  however  the 
less  familiar  hymns.    And  furthermore  he  arranged  it  in  such  a  way 
that,  as  far  as  might  be  practicable,  there  would  be  a  uniform  metre 
for  the  singing  of  the  hymns.    Accordingly  he  counted  the  syllables, 
and  placed  one  hymn  here  and  another  there,  with  the  result  that  the 
hymns  in  the  matter  of  theme  have  no  sequence.    For  I  well  know, 
that  if  he  had  known  that  it  was  destined  to  be  a  permanent  work, 
he  would  have  arranged  it  differently.    Indeed  he  said  to  me  at  one 
time:  'If  I  were  to  arrange  it  now,  it  might  be  that  a  number  of  the 
hymns  would  not  be  included.'    This  I  submit,  not  to  censure  or  to 
condemn  the  work  of  George  Weiss,  but  for  the  sake  of  exact 
knowledge." 

Summarizing,  now,  with  respect  to  constituency  and  size, 
the  collection  of  George  Weiss  was  composed  of:  (i)  The 
entire  collection  of  1709,  numbering  874  hymns;  (2)  the  Suder 
mann  hymns  as  revised  by  Weiss — 230  in  number;  (3)  the 
"Epistel-lieder,"  by  Hoffmann,  106  hymns;  (4)  the  "Medita- 
tiones"  by  the  compiler  himself,  178  hymns;  and  (5)  171  hymns 
of  a  miscellaneous  character.  Total,  1559  hymns.14  Such  was 
the  Schwenkfelder  hymn  collection  as  it  came  from  the  hands  of 
Rev.  George  Weiss.  It  was  completed  on  the  eve  of  the  depar 
ture  of  the  Schwenkfelders  from  Saxony.  In  September  of  the 
year  1734,  with  its  author  it  reached  the  genial  land  of  Penn; 
and  for  upwards  of  thirty  years  it  served  as  the  hymnary  of  the 

14  Compare  with  this,  The  Schwenkfelders  in  Pennsylvania,  p.  107. 


82  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

sect,  furnishing  the  hymns  sung  at  their  gatherings  for  religious 
worship,  at  the  meetings  of  their  youth  for  "Kinderlehr"  and 
at  the  annual  observance  of  "Gedaechtnisstag."  In  our  next 
chapter  we  shall  see  that  before  the  appearance  (1762)  of  the 
first  hymn-book  of  the  Schwenkfelders  printed  in  America,  their 
manuscript  hymn  collection  was  destined  to  be  once  more  re 
arranged,  although  after  1734  it  was  augmented  but  little  while 
it  remained  in  manuscript. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

BALTHASER  HOFFMANN,  CHRISTOPHER  HOFFMANN 
AND  HANS  CHRISTOPH  HUEBNER. 

IT  is  our  purpose  to  treat  here  in  brief  the  matter  of  how 
the  Schwenkfelder  hymn-collection,  founded  by  Caspar  Weiss  and 
enlarged  by  George  Weiss,  came  to  undergo  a  thorough  rewriting 
in  point  of  arrangement,  but  a  few  years  before  it  was  chosen 
as  the  basis  for  the  printed  hymn-book.  In  this  connection  it 
will  be  necessary  to  discuss  the  relation  of  three  immigrant 
Schwenkfelders  to  the  evolution  of  the  Saur  edition.  They  are : 
Rev.  Balthaser  Hoffmann,  Rev.  Christopher  Hoffmann,  his  son, 
and  Hans  Christoph  Hubner.  The  matter  of  the  relation  to 
each  other  of  the  three  folio  volumes  of  the  years  1758,  1759 
and  1760  is  also  a  part  of  our  problem  in  this  chapter. 

BALTHASER    HOFFMANN.1 

This  account  of  Rev.  Balthaser  Hoffmann  is  limited  to,  first, 
his  activity  as  a  writer  of  hymns  and  transcriber  of  hymns 
and,  second,  his  studies  of  hymns.  The  works  cited  herewith 
should  be  consulted  for  fuller  biographical  information  concern 
ing  this  eminent  Schwenkfelder  poet  and  theologian.  We  shall 
first  recount,  summarily,  his  interest  and  participation  in  the  pro 
moting  of  the  Schwenkfelder  hymn-collection. 

In  earlier  chapters,  we  learned  from  Hoffmann's  own  pen, 
that  he  was  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  circumstances  of  the 
origin  of  the  parent  collection  of  1709,  and  that  he  himself  made 
a  transcription  of  the  same  immediately  upon  its  completion.  In 
deed,  it  is  not  unlikely  that  he  rendered  assistance  to  Caspar  Weiss 
by  copying  hymns  for  the  collection.  From  his  account  of  both 
the  first  and  the  second  collection,  already  cited,  it  is  also  evident 
that  he  was  in  close  personal  association  with  the  author  of  the 


1  Cf.  Genealogical  Record  of  the  Schwenkfelders,  pp.  xvi.  and  5-9.     The 
Schwenkfelders  in  Pennsylvania,  pp.  20-23  and  i88ff. 

(83) 


84  SCHWENKFELDER    HYMNOLOGY 

"Evangelia-lieder,"  the  "Meditationes"  and  the  revised  Suder- 
mann  hymns,  when  these  series  were  being  written.  He  had 
learned  by  personal  inquiry,  the  purpose  of  George  Weiss  in  ar 
ranging  the  second  compilation  on  the  basis  of  metre,  and  had 
conversed  with  him  respecting  the  misfortune  of  the  choice  of  this 
system  of  arrangement,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  the  compilation 
had  become  the  accepted  hymnary  of  the  sect.  It  was  Hoffmann 
also  who  had  contributed  to  the  second  collection,  the  "Epistel- 
lieder"  complete  pro  anno  ecclesiastic o — the  idea  of  the  series 
having  been  suggested  by  the  "Evangelia-lieder"  of  his  friend 
Weiss.  Moreover,  Hoffmann  made  a  transcription  of  the  second 
hymn-collection,  as  he  had  done  in  the  case  of  the  first. 

However,  as  the  head  of  the  Schwenkfelder  ministerium 
(in  this  capacity,  Hoffmann  succeeded  Rev.  George  Weiss, 
serving  until  1763)  he  had  found  the  collection  unhappily  ar 
ranged,  since  it  was  altogether  deficient  in  the  matter  of  arrange 
ment  as  to  sequence  of  doctrine.  It  is  further  evident,  that  in 
this  particular,  Hoffmann  regarded  the  compilation  as  unsuited 
to  the  purposes  of  a  church  hymnary.  As  such,  it  needed  to 
undergo  a  thorough  recompiling ;  and  in  the  volumes  listed  in  our 
second  chapter  for  the  years  1758  and  1759,  we  have  carried  into 
effect,  the  rearrangement  which  without  doubt  Hoffmann  for 
some  years  had  had  in  mind. 

The  study  of  hymns  was  for  Balthaser  Hoffmann  an  em 
ployment  which  he  loved.  Occasionally  on  "Gedachtnisstag"2 
he  would  present  the  study  of  a  favorite  hymn.  His  analyses  of 
numerous  hymns  have  been  preserved.  They  reflect  both  intens 
ity  of  method  and  an  amazing  wealth  of  meditations.  They  are 
worthy  of  a  close  homiletic  study.  Rev.  Christopher  Hoffmann 
made  a  selection  of  these  studies,  of  which  the  list  follows : 3 


2  The  Memorial  Day  of  the  Schwenkfelders,  observed  annually  on  the 
24th  of  September  and  commemorating  the  landing  at  Philadelphia,  1734. 

8  From  a  manuscript  in  folio  now  in  the  possession  of  Hon.  S.  W.  Penny- 
packer,  LL.  D.,  who  most  kindly  placed  it  at  the  disposal  of  the  present 
writer.  The  title  of  the  volume  follows : 

Erbauliche  und  Niitzliche/  Betrachtungen./  Welche  der  treue  und  ein- 
faltige  Zeuge  Gottes,  Je-/  su  Christi,  und  seiner  reinen  Wahrheit/  Balthaser 


rtO^DL ,  vJ&£  Jiiaut  tttWdl ;  13&  /oi'/r  ^tta'Jmd/W       wfttS 

*•  \    ^-4"      -P     -  ^     ^vi  4.J-  --'     -^         WHB? 

iiri*' JaariJxth?aiai,iJia.  jcmct' jra"/.  O»TOiuuii|     mu.  Pnin, 


TITLE  PAGE  OF  HYMN-BOOK.    WRITTEN  BY  HANS  CHRISTOPH  HUBNER. 


THE  HOFFMANNS  AND  HANS  CHRISTOPH  HUEBNER  85 

I.  Bedencken  iiber  das  Lied :     Glaubige  Seel !  schau  dein  Herr. 

II.  Kurtzes  Summarium  eines  Bedenckens,  iiber  den  7.  8.  und 
9.  Vers  des  Liedes:  Ein  Kind  ist  tins  gebohren  heut.     1746. 

III.  Summarium  eines  Bedenckens,  aus  dem  Liede.     Lobsinget 
all  mit  Freuden.     1747. 

IV.  Kurtzer  Begrieff  des  Inhalts  einer  Betrachtung  iiber  das 
Lied:    Schau  siindiger  Mensch!  wer  du  bist.     1742. 

V.  Kurtze  Vorstellung  iiber  das  Lied :    Jesus  Christus  lied  den 
Tod.    1742. 

VI.  Kurtzer  Auszug  eines  Bedenckens,  iiber  das  Lied :    Freuet 
euch  heut  allegleich.     1747. 

VII.  Bedencken  iiber  5.  Verse  aus  dem  Liede:     Frolock  heut 
Christglaubige  Seel.     1748. 

VIII.  Bedencken  iiber  etliche  Vorstellungen  an  Christo.     Aus 
dem  Liede:   Jesus  Christus  lied  den  Tod.     1743. 

IX.  Kurtzer  Auszug  iiber  einige  Betrachtungen  vom  heiligen 
Geiste,  aus  dem  Liede:  O  Gott  Schopffer  heiliger  Geist.     1747. 

X.  Bedencken  iiber  das  Lied:     Der  Mensch  hat  einen  grossen 
Schatz.     1751. 

XL  Summarisches  Bedencken  iiber  den  iten  Vers  des  Liedes: 
Der  Mensch  hat  einen  grossen  Schatz.     1747. 

XII.  Fine  kurtze  Erklarung,   zu  mehrem  und  reicherm  Ver- 
stande  des  Liedes:     Schonster  Jesu  !    Konig  der  Ehren.     1766. 

XIII.  Kurtzes  Bedencken,  zu  einer  Anweisung,  tiber  das  Lied : 
O  glaubigs  Hertze  benedf1.    1746. 

XIV.  Kurtze    Anweisung    und    Bedencken,    iiber    das    Lied : 
Mensch!    Erheb  dein  Hertz  zu  Gott.    1746. 

XV.  Betrachtung  iiber  das  Lied:    Last  uns  folgen  sanct  Pauli 
Lehr.    1750. 

XVI.  Bedencken  iiber  einige  Verse  aus  dem  Liede :    Menschen 
Kind  was  briist  du  dich. 

XVII.  Vier  Betrachtungen,  aus  dem  Liede:     Ey  last  uns  jetzt 
allsamt. 


Hoffmann/  in  Pennsilvanien  von  Anno  1737.  bisz  Anno  1768.7  Geschrieben./ 
Bestehend  in  dreyen  Theilen./  Der  I.  Theil  enthalt:/  Betrachtungen  tiber 
heilige  Schrifft,  altes  tmd  neues  Testa-/  ments,  sowol  tiber  gantze  Capitel, 
als  auch  tiber  Verse/  aus  derselben./  Der  II.  Theil  enthalt:/  Andere  ntitz- 
liche  Betrachtungen  und  Bekantnisse./  Der  III.  Theil  enthalt :/  Betrachtungen 
tiber  Lieder./  Auch  mit  zwey  nutzlichen  Registern  versehen./  Gesammlet  und 
zusammen  getragen  von/  Christoph  Hoffmann/  M.DCC.  XCV. 


86  SCHWENKFELDER    HYMNOLOGY 

At  the  time  of  the  publication  of  the  Saur  edition,  Balthaser 
Hoffmann  had  a  more  intimate  knowledge  of  the  hymn-collec 
tions  of  Caspar  Weiss  and  George  Weiss,  both  as  to  their  his 
tory  and  their  content,  than  any  other  Schwenkfelder  living. 
In  1753  he  had  completed  a  transcription  of  the  George  Weiss 
collection,  enriching  the  value  of  the  collection  for  devotional 
use  with  interpretations  and  Scripture  references.  At  this  time 
he  had  also  carefully  recorded  the  facts  of  the  origin  of  this 
collection,  then  the  hymnary  of  the  sect  in  manuscript.  He  was 
well  informed  with  regard  to  the  work  of  Caspar  Weiss  and 
that  of  George  Weiss  in  the  textual  criticism  of  numerous  hymns 
of  the  Schwenkfelder  collection,  and  in  1754  had  written  an  ex 
planation  of  the  motives  by  which  these  compilers  had  been 
actuated  in  venturing  upon  the  work  of  textual  revision.  From 
1740-1763,  he  filled  the  pastoral  office  of  the  Schwenkf elders — 
the  period  during  which  the  hymn-book  of  the  Bohemian  Breth 
ren  passed  out  of  use,  and  the  publication  of  a  hymn-book  by 
and  for  the  Schwenkfelders  had  been  discussed,  undertaken 
and  realized.  Moreover,  documentary  evidence  is  not  wanting 
that  Balthaser  Hoffmann  had  long  felt  keenly  the  need  of  a 
printed  Schwenkfelder  hymn-book,  and  that  he  was  a  leader  in 
the  movement  for  the  publication  of  it.  Of  the  hymns  by  Bal 
thaser  Hoffmann  contained  in  the  Saur  edition,  twelve,  includ 
ing  the  hymn  which  heads  the  collection,  were  written  while  the 
hymn-book  was  in  process  of  publication. 

We  give  here,  in  translation  and  somewhat  abridged,  the 
biographical  account  of  Rev.  Balthaser  Hoffmann  written  by 
Rev.  Christopher  Hoffmann,  his  son:4 

"Balthaser  Hoffmann  was  born  in  the  year  1687  in  Harpers- 
dorf,  Principality  of  Liegnitz,  Silesia,  of  poor  plain  and  unpretending 
parents,  and  was  brought  up  in  such  traditions.  He  was  employed 
in  Harpersdorf,  especially  in  winter,  as  a  weaver;  at  other  times, 
however,  frequently  as  a  day  laborer.  In  stature,  he  was  a  tall  man, 
rather  slender,  his  face  longish  and  thin;  and  after  his  fiftieth  year 

*  Ibidem. 


THE  HOFFMANNS  AND  HANS  CHRISTOPH  HUEBNER  87 

his  hair  grew  entirely  white.  Even  at  an  early  age  he  had  both  a 
bent  and  a  zeal  for  learning  the  ancient  languages ;  and  by  his  inde 
fatigable  diligence  and  the  assistance  of  good  books  (which  how 
ever  were  not  plentiful,  because  his  means  were  insufficient  to  pro 
cure  them)  he  succeeded  in  acquiring  a  fair  mastery  of  Latin,  Greek 
and  Hebrew,  so  that  he  knew  these  languages.  Besides  he  had  both 
the  inclination  and  concern  to  devote  himself  to  the  Scriptures,  in 
order  to  acquire  the  correct  understanding  of  them;  to  this  end  his 
knowledge  of  the  languages  was  extremely  useful  and  serviceable, 
since  by  this  means  he  was  able  to  examine  the  original  text  of  the 
Scriptures,  so  that  this  knowledge  was  of  great  assistance  for  the 
better  understanding  of  them.  He  was  also  zealous  in  the  practice 
of  Christian  doctrine,  and  in  the  confession  of  the  untainted  truth 
revealed  by  God  through  Caspar  Schwenkfeld,  desiring  to  apprehend 
and  to  comprehend  it  accurately  and  unalloyed.  And  this  God 
granted  him,  so  that  he  obtained  an  abounding  knowledge  of  it. 
Moreover,  all  his  life  he  kept  a  watchful  eye  upon  it,  to  keep  it 
pure  and  to  avoid  mingling  with  it  accessory  doctrines.  *  *  * 

"Upon  his  safe  arrival  in  Philadelphia,  he  did  not  long  remain 
in  the  city,  but  went  into  the  country  and,  in  accordance  with  the 
custom  there,  founded  a  home,  since  God  had  again  blessed  him  so 
that  he  and  his  family  could  once  more  live  peaceably.  Moreover, 
his  study  of  the  Scriptures  and  Christian  doctrine  he  at  no  time 
neglected,  but  devoted  himself  to  them  with  the  utmost  diligence. 
And  his  liberty  in  Pennsylvania  was  to  him  a  particularly  momentous 
matter,  which  he  regarded  as  a  great  divine  favor  and  gift,  be 
stowed  upon  the  untainted  testimony  of  the  truth,  that  it  might  be 
cherished  and  practiced  without  hindrance. 

"When  to  George  Weiss  had  been  assigned  the  charge  of  hold 
ing  public  worship,  as  well  as  the  performance  of  the  marriage 
ceremony,  the  preaching  of  the  Word  at  burial  services  and  the 
catechising  of  the  children ;  and  when  in  1740  George  Weiss  quite 
unexpectedly  heard  the  last  summons,  these  duties  were  entrusted 
to  him  (Balthaser  Hoffmann),  even  though  a  few  times  he  secured 
release.  Especially  in  1749,  when  on  his  chest  and  in  his  bronchial 
tubes  he  had  a  sensation  which  made  breathing  difficult,  and  this 
gradually  became  worse  until  both  singing  and  speaking  were  un 
endurable.  But  in  each  instance  he  was  again  applied  to,  particu- 


88  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

larly  to  conduct  the  public  services  and  catechise  the  children,  by 
reason  of  his  capability,  which  was  divinely  bestowed.  And  this  he 
did,  until  on  account  of  old  age  he  was  no  longer  able.  *  *  * 

"In  1774,  December  twenty-first,  he  was  attacked  with  vertigo, 
which  left  him  quite  weak.  Repeated  attacks  followed  at  intervals 
of  about  two  weeks  leaving  him  every  time  in  greater  weakness. 
*  *  *  On  the  eleventh  of  July  1775,  we  observed  that  he  was 
even  weaker  than  usual  and  that  his  feebleness  was  increasing.  This 
continued  until  he  lost  his  speech,  and  a  few  hours  before  his 
departure  consciousness  left  him.  On  the  above  mentioned  day,  in 
the  afternoon  at  5  o'clock,  calmly  and  but  slightly  disturbed,  in  the 
eighty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  he  fell  asleep.  The  Lord  be  praised  for 
having  thus  summoned  him,  and  grant  that  we  may  be  saved  and 
follow  him.  Amen.  Written  in  the  year  1777.  Christoph  Hoff 
mann." 

Rev.  Christopher  Hoffmann's  earliest  and  most  important 
contribution  to  Schwenkfelder  hymnology  was  the  manuscript 
hymn-book  of  1760.  A  general  characterization  of  this  volume 
is  contained  in  our  Descriptive  Bibliography.  The  pre-eminent 
feature  of  this  hymn-book  is  the  incorporation  of  the  textual 
revision  or  "correction"  of  numerous  hymns,  made  by  Caspar 
Weiss  and  George  Weiss.  A  detailed  account  of  the  nature  and 
design  of  this  textual  study  is  included  in  the  introduction.  The 
hymns  involved  are  principally  those  of  the  Bohemian  Brethren. 
It  appears  that  Caspar  Weiss  compared  the  hymns  common  to 
the  various  editions  of  the  Bohemian  hymn-book,  ascertained  the 
variant  readings  and  then,  whenever  possible,  restored  the  text 
of  the  earliest  print  of  the  hymn.  If,  in  his  opinion,  the  text 
was  sectarian  or  otherwise  open  to  criticism,  he  supplied  his  own 
revision.  In  the  same  way,  George  Weiss  revised  the  non- 
Schwenkfelder  hymns  which  he  added  to  his  father's  collection. 
In  the  volume  under  discussion  Christopher  Hoffmann  has  indi 
cated  and  recorded  about  five  hundred  of  these  "corrections," 
by  writing  in  the  margin  in  each  instance  either  the  nnrevised 
variant,  or  the  initial  of  the  corrector.  The  results  of  this  work 
were  applied  in  large  measure  in  the  editing  of  the  printed  hymn- 


MANUSCRIPT  HYMN-BOOK  (1760).    WRITTEN  BY  CHRISTOPH  HOFFMANN. 


THE  HOFFMANNS  AND  HANS  CHRISTOPH  HUEBNER  89 

book.5  Another  service  performed  by  Christopher  Hoffmann 
was  the  preservation,  already  noted,  of  many  exegeses  of  hymns 
made  by  his  father,  Balthaser  Hoffmann.  Again,  the  manuscript 
appendix  which  many  copies  of  the  Saur  edition  contain,  is  his 
work.  Following  is  the  description  of  the  hymn-book  of  1760, 
written  on  a  fly-leaf  of  the  volume  by  its  owner,  Former  Gov 
ernor  S.  W.  Pennypacker  :6 

"This  hymn-book  of  the  Schwenckfelders,  which  may  be  said 
to  represent  the  art  of  the  Middle  Ages,  extended  into  the  i8th 

Century  and  across  the  Atlantic is  the  best  specimen  of  their 

manuscripts  known  to  those  familiar  with  the  subject.  It  was  writ 
ten  between  1758  and  1760  in  Penna.  and  was  bound  here  and  the 
clasps  and  mountings  were  made  here.  Christoph  Hoffman,  who 
wrote  it,  came  to  Penna.  at  six  years  of  age,  so  that  his  art  was 
learned  here.  It  is  therefore,  except  as  to  the  literature,  purely  a 
Penna.  production.  Hoffman  was  born  in  1728  and  died  Jany.  29, 
1804,  so  that  when  he  undertook  this  task  he  was  thirty  years  of 
age.  He  was  a  Schwenckfelder  minister. 

"An  account  of  the  origin  of  this  collection  of  hymns  with  a 
series  of  biographical  sketches  of  the  authors  is  given  in  the  preface. 
The  initials  of  the  authors  are  written  beside  the  hymns  and  are 
explained  in  the  preface.  Aurelius  Prudentius,  a  pious  Spaniard 
about  A.  D.  400,  wrote  a  number  of  hymns  in  Latin,  which  were 
translated  into  German  by  Adam  Reissner.  This  and  the  hymn 
book  of  the  Picards  or  Bohemian  Brethren,  which  was  translated 
by  Michael  Weiss  in  1531  and  increased  and  corrected  by  Johan 
Horn,  constituted  the  earliest  and  principal  sources.  Selections  were 
also  made  from  the  hymns  written  by  the  Schwenckfelders  Adam 
Reissner,  Reimund  Wecker,  George  Frell,  Daniel  Sudermann,  An- 
tonius  Oelsner,  George  Heydrick,  Martin  John  and  others,  and  by 
some  of  the  Lutherans  and  Reformed. 

"Caspar  Weiss,  born  at  Deutmansdorf  in  Silesia,  and  who  mar 
ried  Anna,  daughter  of  George  Anders,  made  the  collection  in  1709 
for  the  use  of  his  family  and  it  was  afterward  adopted  by  the 
church.  George  Weiss,  his  son,  born  1687  at  Harpersdorf  in  Si- 

B  Compare  with  this,  page  xiv  of  the  preface  of  the  Saur  edition. 
6  Printed  by  permission. 


go  SCHWENKFELDER    HYMNOLOGY 

lesia  and  who  married  Anna  Meschter,  the  leader  of  the  Schwenck- 
felder  emigration  and  their  first  preacher  here increased  the  col 
lection  in  1726  and  arranged  it  in  four  parts.  There  are  also  some 
hymns  written  abroad  and  here  by  Balthaser  Hoffman,  father  of 
Christoph,  who  was  born  in  1686  and  came  to  Penna.  in  1734. 

"In  the  manuscript  the  letter  'A'  signifies  that  the  hymn  is  in  its 
old  form,  'C  that  it  has  been  corrected  by  Caspar  Weiss,  and  *G* 
by  George  Weiss.  In  the  Second  Register  the  hymns  collected  by 
Caspar  Weiss  are  designated  by  red  capitals  and  those  by  George 
Weiss  by  black.  This  collection,  which  up  to  that  time  had  re 
mained  in  manuscript,  formed  the  basis  of  the  hymn-book  printed 
by  Saur  in  1762. 

"On  examining  this  manuscript  we  cannot  help  but  feel  the 
strongest  admiration  for  the  zeal  and  patience  of  the  scribe,  the 
neatness  and  excellence  of  his  work,  the  strength  and  beauty  of 
the  binding,  and  the  nice  care  with  which  the  book  has  been  pre 
served  through  one  hundred  and  twenty-one  years  in  all  its  original 
freshness  and  purity. 

"Samuel  W.  Pennypacker, 

"Nov.  6,  1881." 

Hans  Christoph  Hubner  was  born  in  1721.  His  father  was 
Christoph  Hubner  and  his  mother  Maria  (nee  Yeakel).  He 
and  his  parents  came  to  America  in  1737.  He  is  buried  on  the 
farm  on  which  he  lived,  near  the  present  Cedars,  Montgomery 
County.  The  farm  is  now  (1909)  owned  by  William  G.  Freed. 
The  writer  is  extremely  glad  of  the  opportunity  to  direct  atten 
tion  to  this  neglected  Schwenkfelder  scribe,  Hans  Christoph 
Hubner.  In  1746  he  married  Barbara  Schultz,  who  in  1734,  at 
the  age  of  14  years,  with  her  widowed  mother  had  emigrated  to 
America.  Having  attained  the  rank  of  a  householder,  he  soon 
acquired  prominence  in  the  life  of  the  church.  For  thirty  years 
beginning  (circa)  1745,  he  was  active  as  a  transcriber  and  com 
piler.  He  wrote  the  three  folio  volumes  of  hymns  dated  1758, 
1759  and  1765.  In  addition,  three  massive  collections  of  sermons 
in  folio,  numerous  quartos  of  hymns  and  of  homiletic  literature, 
and  a  great  variety  of  additional  volumes.  In  the  quantity  of 


THE  HOFFMANNS  AND  HANS  CHRISTOPH   HUEBNER  QI 

manuscript  produced,  he  leads  all  the  transcribers  of  the  Schwenk- 
felders  in  America,  admitting  the  possible  exception  of  Rev.  Balt- 
haser  Hoffmann.  It  was  he  who  executed  (1758-59)  the  last  re 
arrangement  of  the  Weiss  hymn-collection,  to  which  he  added 
120  hymns.  In  the  period  1760-1780,  he  was  prominent  in  the 
movement  for  the  organization  of  the  sect,  and  was  one  of  the  five 
"Haus-vater"  of  the  Lower  District  at  whose  homes  in  routine  the 
Sunday  meetings  for  worship  were  held.  He  was  also  a  liberal 
contributor  to  the  fund  established  (1764)  for  the  founding  and 
support  of  the  school  system  inaugurated  that  year.  Miss  Flora 
Krauss  Heebner,  missionary  of  the  Schwenkfelder  Church,  who 
is  stationed  at  Shansi,  China,  and  her  brother,  Rev.  Harvey 
Krauss  Heebner,  pastor  of  the  First  Schwenkfeldian  Church  of 
Philadelphia,  are  lineal  descendants  of  Hans  Christoph  Hiibner. 
He  died  at  the  age  of  82  years. 

The  story  of  the  folio  volumes  bearing  the  dates  of  1758 
and  1759,  may  be  both  simply  and  briefly  told.  In  point  of 
content,  the  former  consists  of  the  second  collection,  as  compiled 
and  arranged  by  George  Weiss,  excluding  the  "Psalm-Lieder," 
the  "Biblische  Geschichte,"  the  Sudermann  hymns  based  on  the 
Song  of  Solomon,  the  "Meditationes,"  the  "Evangelia-Gesange" 
and  the  "Epistel-lieder."  Of  these  six  series,  three  were  included 
in  the  collection  of  1709  and  the  others  added  by  George  Weiss. 
In  a  word,  the  manuscript  hymn-book  dated  1758  is  composed  of 
the  miscellaneous  hymns  of  the  collection  of  Caspar  Weiss  and 
the  miscellany  of  the  George  Weiss  addition.  These  hymns,  treat 
ing  exhaustively  every  phase  of  Christian  doctrine,  are  grouped 
by  the  various  articles  ("Artickel")  so-called,  of  the  Christian 
creed  and  doctrine,  consecutively  presented.  Furthermore,  the 
hymns  of  each  "Artickel"  are  prefaced  with  a  summary  of  the 
teaching  they  contain.  Those  hymns  which  are  translations  of 
hymns  by  the  church- fathers,  are  in  most  cases  given  in  parallel 
columns  with  their  Latin  originals. 

The  re-distribution  of  the  hymns  having  advanced  this  far, 
the  task  remained  of  submitting  to  a  like  arrangement  the  hymns 


92  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

of  the  six  distinct  series  named  above.  In  the  volume  of  the 
year  1759  we  find  this  work  accomplished.  These  two  volumes 
together  comprise  the  Schwenkfelder  hymn-collection  in  its  final 
arrangement  in  manuscript.  It  is  not  surprising  that  the  scribe 
remarks  in  the  passage  cited  below,  that  he  found  the  collection 
too  massive  to  be  bound  into  a  single  volume.  The  two  volumes 
contain  a  total  of  more  than  twenty-two  hundred  pages  in  folio. 
The  following  excerpt,  taken  from  the  introduction  of  the  manu 
script  volume  of  1758,  contains  the  author's  own  statement  of 
the  source  of  the  hymns  composing  it: 

"Weil  auf  dem  Titul-Blatt  dieses  Buches  gemeldet  ist,  dass  ein 
Verzeichniss  oder  Ordnung  diesem  Buche  beygefiiget,  nach  welchem 
die  Gesange  (nach  Belieben  und  Gefalligkeit)  zu  denen  Evangelien 
auf  alle  Sonn-  und  Feyer-Tage  durchs  ganze  Jahr,  konnen  betrach- 
tet  werden :  So  wil  ich  hiebey  erinnern,  dass  Caspar  Weiss  die  Ge 
sange  gesammlet,  und  auss  vielen  Autoribus  zusammen  getragen, 
und,  auf  Begehren  treuer  Gemiither,  auf  die  Sonntage  geordnet  hat, 
und  zwar  in  zwey  Abtheilungen,  zu  einer  Ubung  in  der  Stille  daheim 
im  Hause  mit  den  Seinen  zu  gebrauchen  (Anno  1709)  :  Und,  dass 
die  Gesange  in  diesem  Buche,  eben  dieselben  Gesange  sind,  die  er 
also  zusammen  getragen ;  ohne  die  Psalmen,  biblischen  Geschichte, 
und  Evangeliums-Gesange,  welche  zusammen  in  ein  Buch  allein 
sollen  geschrieben  werden.7  Weil  auch  ohne  dem  dieses  Buch  fast 
zu  gross  worden."  8 

In  the  following  passage,  the  author  sets  forth  his  object  in 
submitting  these  hymns  to  a  rearrangement : 

"Sintemal  denn  die  heiligen  Apostel  und  andere  alte  und  Christ- 
liche  Lehrer  der  Kirchen  das  Bekantniss  dess  Glaubens  und  die 
gottselige  Christliche  Lehre,  in  unterschiedene  Haubt-Puncte  und 
Artickel  verabfasset  haben,  zu  einem  Dienste  fur  den  ausern  Men- 


TThe  manuscript  hymn-book  of  the  year  1759  was  the  fulfilment  of  this 
promise. 

"This  citation  mentions  only  the  Caspar  Weiss  collection;  but  investiga 
tion  has  shown  that  the  miscellaneous  portion  of  George  Weiss's  addition  is 
also  incorporated  in  this  volume.  In  fact,  a  few  of  the  Psalm-lieder  and  also 
a  number  of  the  Meditationes  found  their  way  into  this  volume. 


THE  HOFFMANNS  AND  HANS  CHRISTOPH  HUEBNER  93 

schen,  dass  er  sich  darinnen  iibe,  Gotte  lerne  erkennen,  die  Wercke 
Gottes  betrachte,  und  eine  Lehre  habe  sich  in  gottseligem,  Christ- 
lichem  Wandel  zu  iiben.  *  *  *  Und  weilen  aber  viele  Christ- 
liche  Autores,  solche  Haubt-Puncte  oder  Artickel  der  Christlichen 
Lehre  meditirt  und  betrachtet,  und  in  Reimen  und  geistliche  Lieder 
verabfasset  haben;  und  weilen  die  Christlichen  Autores,  so  diese 
geistliche  Lieder  gedichtet,  solche  Lehre  und  Materien  bedacht  und 
Gesangs-Weise  betrachtet  haben:  so  hat  man  fiir  gutt  und  niitz 

geachtet auch  sonderlich  wegen  der  Jugend  (weil  durch  Singen 

eine  Sache  auch  leichter  mag  ins  Gemuth  und  Gedachtniss  bracht 
werden)  dass  solche  Haubt-Articul  oder  die  Christliche,  apostolische 
Lehre  mochte  bekant,  gefasset  und  geiibet  werden,  damit  es  ihr  ein 

solcher  Dienst  und  Handleitung  mochte  seyn solche  Lieder,  oder 

dieses  Gesang-Buch  nach  den  Haubt-Artickeln  der  Christlichen 
Lehre  zu  ordnen  und  einzutheilen :  dass  also  auch  die  Lieder,  nach 
deren  Unterscheidung,  leichter  und  besser  mogen  begriffen  und 
verstanden  werden.  Und  also  sind  die  Artickel,  so  viel  moglich, 
in  Ordnung  auf  einander  gesetzt:  Und  weil  denn  einige  mehr  oder 
weniger  Lieder  haben,  so  sind  solche,  so  da  viel  Lieder  haben  und 
reich  von  Inhalt  der  Christlichen  Lehre  sind,  wiederum  in  unter- 
schiedene  Abtheilungen  unterschieden :  Wie  denn  auch  eines  jeden 
Artickels  furnehmster  Inhalt  zusammen  in  Kiirtze  in  ein  Sum- 
marium  verfasset  und  bey  dess  selben  Anfang  zu  finden  ist." 

We  give  below  the  complete  "Verzeichniss  der  Artickel" 
or  table  of  contents  of  the  manuscript  hymn-book  of  1758,  first 
because  this  volume  seems  to  have  been  compiled  solely  for  the 
sake  of  the  classification  already  discussed,  and  second,  to  antici 
pate  the  fact  of  the  similarity  in  arrangement  between  this  volume 
and  the  printed  hymn-book  :9 

I.  VON  GOTT,  ODER  VON  DER  HEILIGEN  DREYFALTIGKEIT. 

II.  VON  JESU  CHRISTO,  SEINER  PERSON  UND  AMMTE;  folget 
also: 


9  A  comparison  has  shown  that  most  of  the  "articles"  of  this  table  were 
taken  from  the  Moravian  hymn-book,  edition  of  1566.  A  few  appear  to  have 
been  original  with  the  author  of  the  manuscript  volume  in  question.  The 
order  of  the  various  rubrics  has,  however,  been  changed. 


94  SCHWENKFELDER   HYMNOLOGY 

/  Menschwerdung. 

Geburt. 

Beschneidung. 

Offenbarung  den  Weisen. 

Opferung  im  Tempel. 

Flucht  in  Egipten. 
Jugend  und  Gewachse  nach  der  Menscheit. 

\/ fin 

Christi      \  ^eltDen   un(*  Wandel,   Tauffe,   Anfechtungen,   Predigten, 
Wunderwercken,  und  Beruff  der  Jiinger. 
Einzug  gen  Jerusalem. 
Leiden,  Tod  und  Begrabniss. 
Auferstehung. 
Himmelfahrt. 
Mittler-Ammte. 
Erkantniss. 

III.  VOM  HEILIGEN  GEISTE. 

IV.  VON  DER  SCHOPFFUNG. 

V.  VON  DEN  ENGELN. 

VI.  VOM  FALL  DES  MENSCHEN. 

VII.  VON  DEN  ZEHN  GEBOTTEN. 

VIII.  VON  DER  RECHTFERTIGUNG. 

IX.  VON  DEM  GLAUBEN. 

X.  VON  DER  BUSSE. 

XI.  VOM  GEBET. 

XII.  VOM  WORTE  GOTTES. 

XIII.  VON  APOSTELN  UND  KIRCHEN-DIENERN. 

XIV.  VON  DER  CHRISTLICHEN  KIRCHEN. 

XV.  VON  DER  TAUFFE. 

XVI.  VOM  ABENDMAL. 

XVII.  VON  DER  DANCKSAGUNG. 

XVIII.  VON  DEN  HEILIGEN. 

XIX.  VOM  CHRISTLICHEN  LEBEN. 

XX.  VOM  CREUTZ  DER  KIRCHEN. 

XXL  VON  DER  KIRCHEN  VERWUESTUNG. 

XXII.  VOM  GEBETT  FUER  DIE  KIRCHE. 

XXIII.  VON  VERNEUERUNG  DER  KIRCHEN. 

XXIV.  VON  DER  OBERKEIT. 


THE  HOFFMANNS  AND  HANS  CHRISTOPH  HUEBNER  95 

XXV.  VOM  EHESTAND  UND  DER  KINDER-ZUCHT. 

XXVI.  VOM  TOD  UND  STERBEN. 

XXVII.  VOM  BEGRAEBNISS. 

XXVIII.  VON    DER    AUFERSTEHUNG    UND   JuENGSTEN    GE- 

RICHT. 

XXIX.  VOM  EWIGEN  LEBEN. 

XXX.  VON  DER  EWIGEN  PEIN. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
CHRISTOPHER  SCHULTZ  AND  THE  PRINTED  HYMN-BOOK. 

WE  have  seen  that  the  Schwenkfelders  were  early  aware  of 
the  importance  attaching  to  the  problem  of  a  hymn-book ;  and  that 
their  activity  in  the  collecting  of  hymns  dates  from  the  sixteenth 
century.  We  have  traced  from  its  inception  to  its  final  form,  the 
manuscript  hymn  collection  which  is  entitled  to  the  distinction  of 
having  been  the  first  Schwenkfelder  hymnary  used  in  America. 
We  have  also  observed  in  connection  with  our  narrative  of  the 
manuscript  collection,  the  presence  of  a  well-defined  continuity 
of  development.  In  the  present  chapter,  we  shall  endeavor  to 
demonstrate  that  this  continuity  of  development  extended  also 
into  the  first  printed  hymn  collection  issued  in  America — both 
the  plan  and  the  content  of  the  printed  hymnal  exemplifying  this 
progression.  In  a  word,  we  are  here  concerned  with  the  matter 
of  the  extent  to  which  the  Neu-Eingerichtetes  Gesang-Buch 
(1762)  is  indebted  to  the  manuscript  volumes  of  1758  and  1760, 
in  point  of  arrangement,  and  to  the  second  hymn  collection  as  a 
whole,  in  point  of  content.  At  the  close  of  the  chapter,  we  print 
specimens  of  the  Schwenkfelder  hymns  written  in  America. 

The  first  hymn-book  of  the  Schwenkfelders  printed  in 
America,  with  the  title  Neu-Eingerichtetes  Gesang-Buch,  left  the 
press  of  Christoph  Saur  at  the  close  of  the  year  1762.  It  was  a 
much  needed  book.  The  Schwenkfelders  had  brought  with  them 
to  America  numerous  copies  of  the  Moravian  hymn-book,  but 
for  years  this  had  been  used  but  little.  Of  their  manuscript 
hymn  collection,  there  were  seemingly  but  three  complete  copies 
existing.  Hence  there  was  no  want  of  occasion  for  the  publish 
ing  of  a  hymn-book. 

The  documentary  information  we  possess,  relative  to  the 
issuing  of  the  Schwenkfelder  hymn-book  of  1762,  is  compara 
tively  scanty.  However,  from  certain  fragmentary  records  and 
from  extant  correspondence,  we  learn  that  the  project  had  for 

some  years  been  under  consideration ;  that  previous  to  the  prepara- 
(96) 


THE   PRINTED   HYMN-BOOK  97 

tion  of  the  copy,  provision  was  made  to  meet  the  expense  of 
issuing;  and  that  the  publication  was  in  charge  of  a  representa 
tive  committee,  Rev.  Christopher  Schultz  having  been  commis 
sioned  with  the  function  of  editor.  The  following  brief  chronicle 
relating  to  the  publication  of  said  hymn-book,  is  taken  from  the 
so-called  Historische  Anmerkungen,  a  Schwenkfelder  chronicle 
for  the  years  1750-1789,  written — up  to  1775 — by  Rev.  Chris 
topher  Schultz.1 

"J759  *  *  *  Nachdem  denn  auch  von  geraumer  Zeit  her 
manchmal  davon  geredet  worden,  wenn  man  ein  Gesang-Buch  vor 
unsz  drukken  lisse,  das  mochte  ein  niitzliches  Werk  seyn,  weil  di 
Lider  so  wir  brauchen,  auserdem  was  etwan  zusammen  geschriben 
wird,  in  Zerstreuung  ligen;  auch  di  alten  gedrukkten  piccardischen 
Gesang-Biicher  veralten  und  das  Schreiben  ein  sehr  beschwerliches 
und  kostbahres  Werk  ist;  so  ist  solches  anjetzo  wider  aufs  Tapet 
kommen,  und  endlich  so  fern  gedihen,  dasz  von  etlichen  ein  Plan  ei- 
nes  Formuls  desselbigen,  bearbeitet  und  vorgezeiget  worden.  Worzu 
sich  denn  so  vile  Subscribers  gefunden,  dasz  beschlossen  worden  da- 
mit  ans  Licht  zutretten  und  es  drukken  zulassen. 

"1760.  Es  hat  aber  unglaublich  vil  Miihe  und  Conferirens  ge- 
kostet  dasz  man  zu  einem  richtigen  Formular  gekommen  ist,  welches 
man  in  den  Drukk  geben  wolte;  also  hat  man  sich  discs  und 
folgendes  Jahr  offte  damit  bemiihet,  bisz  es  nach  Beliben  zu  Stande 
gebracht  worden. 

"1761.  Der  Drukker  ist  gar  gemach  damit  zu  Werke  gegan- 
gen,  weil  er  viel  anders  daneben  gedrukkt;  Es  ist  im  Mittel  des 
1761.  Jahres  damit  angefangen  und  erst  zu  Ausgang  des  1762.  Jah- 
res  beschlossen  worden." 

From  the  monograph  by  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Dubbs,  D.  D.,  LL. 
D.,  cited  in  our  first  chapter,  we  quote  the  following,  relative  to 
this  hymn-book:  "It  is  entitled  Neu  eingerichtetes  Gesangbuch, 
in  sich  halt  end  eine  Sammlung  (mehrentheils  alter)  schoener 
Ichr-relcher  und  erbaulicher  Lieder.  We  are  careful  to  repeat 
the  greater  part  of  the  title  because  there  is  no  intimation 

1  Cf.    M.    D.    Learned :     Historische    Anmerkungen,    A    Schwenkfelder 
Chronicle.    In  Americano,  Germanica,  Vol.  II,  No.  i. 


98  SCHWENKFELDER    HYMNOLOGY 

anywhere  of  the  religious  body  for  which  the  book  was  in 
tended.2  It  is  a  handsome  duodecimo  containing  917  hymns, 
which,  according  to  the  preface,  are  mostly  derived  from  the 
hymn-books  of  the  "Bohemian  Brethren",  though  there  is  an 
appendix  containing  some  of  the  best  hymns  of  the  Lutheran 
and  Reformed  churches.  The  preface  is  scholarly  and  the  ar 
rangement  admirable.  There  is  a  three-fold  index,  of  melodies, 
festivals  and  first  lines.  The  index  of  hymns  arranged  according 
to  the  festivals  not  only  indicates  hymns  proper  to  be  sung  on 
every  Lord's  Day  in  the  year,  but  also  for  many  saints'  days 
which  are  not  ordinarily  observed  by  Protestants,  and  for  six 
annual  days  of  fasting  and  prayer.  *  *  *  Notwithstanding 
certain  imperfections,  the  Schwenkfelder  hymn-book  is,  in  our 
opinion,  a  publication  of  a  very  superior  order,  and  a  credit  to 
the  community  that  produced  it." 

The  scholarliness  of  the  preface  of  said  hymn-book  is  owed 
to  Rev.  Christopher  Schultz,  while  the  orderliness  of  its  arrange 
ment  is  in  some  measure  to  be  placed  to  his  credit.  In  a  sketch 
of  his  life  and  literary  activity  ("Lebenslauf  von  Vater  Christoph 
Schultz,  Sr.")  3  written  by  David  Schultz,  his  son,  are  included 
these  few  words  relative  to  the  authorship  of  the  preface  of  this 
hymn-book :  "Die  Vorrede  im  alten  Gesang-Buch,  ist  auch  meh- 
rentheils  sein  Werck".  We  print  below  a  letter  of  Christopher 
Schultz,  which  not  only  attests  the  fact  that  he,  as  editor,  drafted 
the  preface  of  the  hymn-book  in  question,  but  which  betrays  also 
the  editor's  concern  that  the  hymn-book  should  set  a  high  stan 
dard  as  to  both  orderliness  and  Christian  doctrine,  and  should 
be  serviceable  as  a  text-book  of  uncolored  Christian  faith.  The 
letter  follows  in  full :  4 


2  This  is  an  oversight.  The  Schwenkfelders  were  early  called  "Bekenner 
der  Glorien  Christi,"  "Confessors  of  the  Glory  of  Christ."  This  name  the 
full  title  of  the  hymn-book  includes. 

'A  copy  of  this  sketch  of  "Vater"  Schultz  was  furnished  me  by  H.  W. 
Kriebel. 

*  The  original  is  in  the  possession  of  Rev.  E.  E.  S.  Johnson. 


THE    PRINTED    HYMN-BOOK  99 

"An  die  Bef order er  wiser s  Gesang-Buchs:6 
Werthe  Fretmde!  Beyligend  stellt  sich  euch  ein  Vorschlag 
fiir  zu  einer  Vorrede  des  Gesang-Buchs  woran  wir  schon  ein  Weil 
gearbeitet :  Ich  versehe  mich  ohngezweiffelt  dasz  ein  Jeder  di  Wich- 
tigkeit  der  Vorrede  erkennen  imd  bedenken  wird,  und  solches  zu 
erinnern  nicht  nothig  habe.  Nur  ist  mein  Begehren  um  solcher 
Wichtigkeit  willen :  Es  wolle  ein  Jeder  seinen  treuen  Fleisz  daran 
wenden  und  disen  Vorschlag  welchen  ob  zwar  gut  gemeynet,  Ich 
(meiner  mir  wol  bewusten  Unschiklichkeit  und  Wenigkeit  nach) 
nicht  fiir  genugsam  ausgeben  kan,  wol  besehen  und  ermessen ;  zu 
saint  den  Umstanden  worein  wir  unser  Gesang-Buch  stellen  wenn 
wir  damit  ins  Publicum  tretten,  was  zu  dessen  niitzlichen  Gebrauch 
und  Verhinderung  des  Miszbrauchs  und  allerley  Unrichtigkeit  moch- 
te  dinlich  seyn  an  disem  Ort  beyzubringen  beydes  fiir  di  Unsrigen 
als  auch  di  Auswartigen,  auf  welche  letztere  wir  um  des  freyen 
Zeugnisses  der  Warheit  willen,  welches  wir  durch  keine  Ichheit 
einschlissen  dorfften,  nicht  weniger  zu  sehen  haben.  Und  was  ihr 
also  denn  befinden  mochtet  dasz  der  Sache  zu  wenig  oder  zu  vil  ge- 
than  sey  oder  hi  und  da  mehr  oder  besser  konne  illustriret  werden 
(wi  ich  denn  auch  achte  dasz  mit  Schrifft  Zeugnissen  geschehen 
konte  wo  es  anders  euch  gefallt)  das  wolle  denn  auch  ein  Jeder 
verzeichnen:  Damit  wir  etwa  ein  mahl  wenns  euch  gefallt  uns 
samtlich  daruber  berathen  mochten.  Und  ob  ich  wol  auf  Begehren 
disen  Vorschlag  verabf asset,  und  nach  eigenem  Bedenken  einen  Lauff 
des  Vortrags  erwahlet,  so  konte  es  doch  seyn  dasz  Ihr  andern  oder 
Einiger  von  Euch  einen  andern  Weg  der  Vorstellung  belibete,  wel 
ches  denn  auch  fiiglich  zu  bedenken  ware,  weil  man  ja  nicht  erman- 
geln  solte  weil  es  nun  Zeit  ist  das  schikklichste  anzubringen. 

Und  sollen  Gotte  bitten  dasz  er  unsz  bey  diser  raren  Gelegen- 
heit,  Gnade,  Weiszheit  und  Verstand  verleyen  wolle  ihm  gefallig  zu 
handeln.  Wil  also  alles  in  weiter  Bedenken  empfohlen  haben. 

d.  2ten  May  1761.     C.  S." 

We  shall  now  take  up  the  question  of  the  relation  of  the 
classification  of  the  printed  hymn-book,  to  that  of  the  manuscript 
volumes  of  1758  and  1760.  In  this,  as  in  the  choice  of  the 

'Addressed,  in  all  probability,  to  the  committee  in  charge  of  the  publica 
tion  of  the  hymn-book. 


IOO  .       SCHWENKFELDER    HYMNOLOGY 

hymns,  Christopher  Schultz  drew  freely  from  the  Schwenk- 
felder  manuscript  hymn  collection  and  its  predecessor,  the  hymn 
book  of  the  Moravians.  In  our  preceding  chapter  we  gave  the 
complete  "Verzeichniss  der  Artickel"  of  the  manuscript  volume 
of  1758.  For  the  purposes  of  a  comparison  in  point  of  rubric, 
we  give  in  this  connection  the  summary  of  contents  ("Verzeich- 
nis  und  Ordnung")  of  the  Saur  edition.  Following  the  table 
here  given,  is  a  statement  of  the  correspondences  between  the 
two  tables.  The  articles  marked  thus  (*)  constitute  the  rubrics 
added  by  Schultz. 

VERZEICHNIS  UND  ORDNUNG. 
der  TITEL  derer  MATERIEN  davon  DIE  LIEDER  handeln. 

I.  THEIL. 

VOM    GoTTLICHEN    WESEN. 

I.  VON  GOTT  UND  SEINEM  WESEN. 
II.  EMPFAENGNIS  UND  MENSCHWERDUNG. 

III.  GEBURT. 

IV.  BESCHNEIDUNG  UND  NAMEN. 
V.  OFFENBARUNG. 

VI.  OPFFERUNG. 

VII.  FLUCHT. 

VIII.  JUGEND. 

VON  CHRISTI 

IX.  LEBEN  UND  WANDEL. 

X.  EINZUG. 

XI.  LEIDEN  UND  TOD. 

XII.  AUFERSTEHUNG. 

XIII.  HlMMELFAHRT. 

XIV.  MITLER-AMTE. 
ERKANTNIS. 

XVI.  VOM  HEILIGEN  GEISTE. 

II.  THEIL. 

VON  der  OECONOMIE  und  REGIERUNG  GOTTES. 

I.    VON  DER  SCHOPFFUNG. 

II.  VON  DEN  ENGELN. 


THE    PRINTED    HYMN-BOOK  IOI 

III.  VOM  FALL  DES  MENSCHEN. 

IV.  VON  DEN  HEILIGEN  ZEHN  GEBOTTEN. 
V.  VOM  GLAUBEN. 

VI.  VON  DER  BUSSE. 
VII.  VOM  GEBAET. 
VIII.  VOM  VERLANGEN  NACH  GOTT.* 

IX.    VON  DER  LlEBE  ZU  GOTT.* 

X.  VON  DER  RECHTFERTIGUNG. 

XI.    LOBGESAENGE.* 

XII.  VOM  CHRISTLICHEN  WANDEL. 

XIII.  VON  DER  NACHFOLGE  JESU.* 

XIV.  VON  VERLEUGNUNG  SEIN  SELBST  UNO  DER  WELT.* 
XV.  VOM  CHRISTLICHEN  STREIT.* 

XVI.  VOM  VERTRAUEN  AUF  GOTT.* 
XVII.  VON  GUTEN  WERCKEN.* 
XVIII.  VON  ANFECHTUNG  NOTH  UNO  TRUEBSAL.* 
XIX.  TROST-LIEDER.* 

XX.    VON  DER  HOFFNUNG  DER  SELIGKEIT.* 

XXL  VOM  WORTE  GOTTES. 
XXII.  VON  DEN  APOSTELN  UND  KIRCHEN-DIENERN. 

XXIII.  VON  DER   KlRCHE. 

XXIV.  VON  DEN   ElNSETZUNGEN   CliRISTI. 

1.  VON  DER  HEILIGEN  TAUFFE. 

2.  VOM  HEILIGEN  ABENDMAHL. 
XXV.  VON  DEN  HEILIGEN. 

XXVI.  VOM  CREUTZ  DER  KIRCH  EN. 
XXVII.  VON  DER  KIRCHEN-VERWUESTUNG. 
XXVIII.  GEBAET  FUER  DIE  KIRCHE. 
XXIX.  VON  DER  OBERKEIT. 
XXX.  VOM  EHSTAND  UND  KINDER-ZUCHT. 
XXXI.  VOM  TOD  UND  STERBEN. 
XXXII.  BEYM  BEGRAEBNIS. 

XXXIII.  VOM  JUENGSTEN  TAGE. 

XXXIV.  VON  DER  EWIGEN  PEIN. 
XXXV.  VOM  EWIGEN  LEBEN. 

It  will  be   observed   that  the   "Articled"  or   "Titel"   com 
posing  part  I.  of  the  Saur  edition  are  essentially  a  taking-over  of 


IO2  SCHWENKFELDER    HYMNOLOGY 

the  first  three  "Artickel"  of  the  volume  of  1758— the  sub 
divisions  of  II.  having  become  co-ordinate  articles  in  the  printed 
hymn-book.  At  the  beginning  of  part  II.  are  placed  in  order, 
articles  IV.  to  XL  inclusive  of  the  "Verzeichniss"  of  1758— 
excepting  VIII.  which  is  given  a  new  position.  The  remaining 
19  articles  of  the  volume  of  1758  correspond  in  order  to  articles 
XXL — XXXV.  inclusive  of  part  II.  of  the  Schultz  hymn- 
book,  with  but  two  differences:  XVII.  and  XXIII.  not  having 
been  included  among  the  rubrics  of  the  Saur  edition,  and  XIX. 
"Vom  Christlichen  Leben,"  having  become  "Vom  Christlichen 
Wandel"  (II.  Theil,  XII.).  Articles  VIII.  and  IX.,  XL,  and 
XIII.-XX.  (II.  Theil)  are  the  rubrics  added  by  Schultz. 

There  is  also  a  striking  correspondence  between  the  printed 
hymn-book  and  the  volumes  of  1758  and  1760 — in  the  ar 
ticles  common  to  both — with  respect  to  the  hymns  classified 
under  a  given  rubric,  as  well  as  to  the  order  in  which  they  are 
arranged.  Former  Governor  Pennypacker  was  impressed  with 
this  correspondence  between  the  manuscript  collection  and  the 
Saur  edition,  and  without  hesitation,  noted  on  a  fly-leaf  of  the 
volume  of  1760  the  following,  relative  to  this  matter:  "This 
collection,  which  up  to  that  time  had  remained  in  manuscript, 
formed  the  basis  of  the  hymn-book  printed  by  Saur  in  1762." 
We  have  attempted  below  to  illustrate  the  correspondence,  by 
tabulating  the  hymns  comprising  a  characteristic  "Artickel"  of 
the  manuscript  collection  with  those  of  the  corresponding  rubric 
in  the  Saur  edition.  The  hymns  marked  thus  (*)  are  found  in 
both  volumes,  but  differ  as  to  position  in  the  group.  A  blank  line 
indicates  the  absence  of  a  corresponding  hymn.  The  parenthesis 
following  each  line,  indicates  the  number  of  strophes. 


THE    PRINTED    HYMN-BOOK 


eg 
^»^ 

4 

^-f 

00 

t> 

0 

CO 

<^ 

> 
Jt 

translatioi 

'~~ 

en 

'"I 

Pd 

h 

i  Menscher 

S 
G 

-r1 

C 
u 

TJ 
en 

rschreckt,. 

i 

1 

•d 

1 

43 

en 
C 
cu 

s  Prudentil 

£* 

c 
<u 

fi 

§ 

g 

CU 

3 

M 

.s 

DITION 

NSCHEJ 

"d 

en 

• 

bo 

•o 

IH 

'S 

en 

J3 

5 

4J 

TI 

0 

en 

IH 

W 

ttj 

% 

O 
C 

CU 

M 

—  " 

1 

13 
o 
t/ 

O 

y. 

43 

en 

'33 

L^ 

'/i 

cu 

eu 

to 

C 

E 

^ 

C/3 

5 
3 

O 

O 

. 

mhertziger 

^ 
| 

en 

5 

cd 

-J 

o 

vierzehenc 

o 

be 

g 
-d 

CU 

o 

C 

"d 

0 

O 

,  Michael  ^ 

in 

o 

o 

PQ 

C 

Q 

Q 

ej 

1 

rt 

^ 

C 

•; 

> 

"• 

i  —  , 

j 

H^ 

ffi 

U3 
0 

^     . 

"  . 

'  . 

W 

O  Pn 

S 

r-' 

<J 

r-\ 

< 

r-; 

pq 

u. 

Ii 

*rt    fe 

/^  —  s  |TH 

hH 

^, 

^, 

PM 

*~  , 

H^ 

i—  > 

pq  ,h 

O 

^ 

^ 

o 

"S    ^ 

C2 

^ 

g 

.^ 

^ 

^ 

^ 

en    J 

S       ' 

. 

. 

-<->     en 

^!      • 

cu  .S 

^s       • 

• 

•e  o 

| 

$ 

;-t- 

i 

5 

00 

6 

M 

oo 

fe 

£ 

H 

,-'. 

s  ^ 

c 

•^ 

<L> 

• 

-Ju  'O 

5 

**-' 

U 

•',•:- 

—  ' 

.id 

U 

cu     C 
PH     ^ 

" 

00 

§ 

•^ 
£ 
u 
en 

X 

C 

G 
u 

| 

Q 

1 

en 

03 

CU 

. 

E3 

U 

G 

<u 

ss 

W 

M 

—  • 

4 

C 

rt 

43 

J-<      ^ 

LUMES 

S 

en 

en 
w 

-o 

en 

O 

CO 

5 

§ 

CJ 

§ 

^^ 

en 

5 

. 

3 

en 

*tj 

cu 
43 
o 

t/2 

"bo 

Ui      C3 

NUSCRIPT  VO 

s 
J 

a 

< 

h 

o 

> 

a 

,™ 

s 
•d 

1 

X 

£ 

"ct 

to 

'/: 

S 
rt 
•d 

'Ti 

•/•; 

•d 
c 

43 
U 
N 

• 

1. 

1 

S3 
cu 

< 
u 

's 

ie  authors,  ii 
m  Reissner), 

£| 

o 
O 

0 

O 

1* 

1 

-i 

;j 

. 

1 

1 

^1 

.   i 

4-> 

E 

0 

| 

^c 

IN 

rt 

P^ 

5 

P 

cu 

P 

• 

'o 

43 

- 

N 

<-O 

* 

10 

0 

tv 

00 

104  SCHWENKFELDER    HYMNOLOGY 

Still  another  peculiarity  of  the  manuscript  collection  is  re 
flected  in  the  Saur  edition.  The  rubrics  comprising  a  large  num 
ber  of  hymns  are  further  divided  into  "Abtheilungen"  so-called. 
Furthermore,  in  both  the  manuscript  collection  and  the  printed 
volume,  each  "Artickel"  and  "Abtheilung"  is  prefaced  with  a 
brief  summary  of  the  doctrine  which  the  hymns  set  forth.  The 
language  of  these  prefatory  remarks  is,  moreover,  frequently 
identical.  Schultz's  apology  for  introducing  this  innovation  into 
a  printed  hymn-book,  follows :  7 

"Allhier  ist  dieses  sonderlich  zu  melden,  dasz  eben  auch  um 
bessern  Begriffs  und  Verstandlichkeit  willen  und  der  Einfalt  zu 
dienen,  noch  nebst  dem  Tittel  einer  jeden  Rubrique  (etliche  wenige 
ausgenommen)  ein  kurtzes  Summarium  enthalten  ist,  welches  an- 
zeiget,  worauf  eigentlich  die  Lieder  in  ihrem  Vortrag  sehen;  da  man 
denn  auch  zugleich  das  Gemercke  mit  dahin  gehabt,  dasz  derselben 
Ordnung  gemass,  wie  solches  Summarium  redet,  und  ein  Stiicke  des 
Inhalts  nach  dem  andern  setzet,  also  auch  die  Lieder  einander  nach 
zu  stehen  kommen  sind,  damit  ein  aufmercksames  fleissiges  Ge- 
miith,  desto  eher  an  die  Materie  kommen  konne,  wovon  es  belieben 
mochte  haben,  ein  Lied  zu  singen.  *  *  *  Wenn  denn  aber, 
derer  Summarien  bey  manchen  Rubriquen  was  viel  haben  werden 
wollen,  so  hat  man  sie  nach  fuglichen  Unterschieden  abgetheilet, 
und  solche  Abtheilungen  aus  eiander  gesetzet,  dass  die  Lieder  derer 
unterschiedlichen  Abtheilungen  nicht  verwechselt,  sondern  eine  jede 
Abtheilung  ihre  Lieder  so  gleich  unter  sich  stehen  habe.  Von  wel- 
cher,  obwohl  in  Gesangbiichern  biszher  ungewohnlichen  Arbeit,  man 

hoffet,  dasz  Niemand  einigen  Schaden hingegen  aber  manches 

einen  guten  Nutzen  und  Dienst  haben  wird." 

In  concluding  our  discussion  of  the  features  of  the  Saur 
edition  traceable  to  the  manuscript  hymn-book,  we  wish  to  make 
a  few  additional  observations.  The  greater  number  of  the  hymns 
of  the  printed  hymn-book  are  contained  in  the  manuscript  col 
lection  also.  However,  many  of  these  hymns  are  found  in  the 
Moravian  hymn-book  as  well,  and  it  is  sometimes  impossible  to 

TFrom  the  preface  of  the  Saur  edition,  p.  xix.f. 


kjtm  nujjl  k  oij"  , 
ta  ,  ii)  Waif  /  iuf  «&*  «. 

RI  aff  Jcwtm  <Awi  ,  nu  itr  fiwntf 
>jifidjTL   itr  /Jjffin  ^u  ,  IM  ^M  -Arfifiuj  no)  /tj». 

0  -'  j*  »"^'  W^  «  fa  y 

kui  <^>U/  crfiifttn  n>;ri  ,  mu) 

pfi  i*  «i|  wlm"1 

m  (-cm  ,  roni  iir 


9 


jitr  ;£s 


in) 


. 


;  X. 


SPECIMEN  PAGE  OF  HYMN-BOOK  BY  CHKISTOPH  HOFFMANN. 
(Showing  a  Hymn  by  Balthaser  Hoffmann.) 


THE    PRINTED    HYMN-BOOK  IO5 

determine  whether  a  given  hymn  has  been  taken  from  the  manu 
script  collection  or  from  its  original  source,  the  Moravian  hymn- 
book  ;  since  the  three  different  texts  exhibit  no  important  variants. 
Nevertheless,  the  frequent  appearance  in  the  Saur  edition  of 
variant  readings  introduced  by  Caspar  Weiss  and  George  Weiss, 
seems  to  indicate  that  with  respect  to  even  these  hymns,  the 
manuscript  collection  served  Schultz  as  both  a  standard  and  a 
source. 

The  hymns  comprising  the  printed  hymn-book  number  917. 
Of  these  591  were  contained  in  the  parent  collection  made  by 
Caspar  Weiss  (1709).  Of  the  remaining  326,  165  were  in 
cluded  in  the  addition  made  to  the  collection  of  1709  by  George 
Weiss.  There  were  therefore  161  hymns  incorporated  into  the 
Saur  edition  which  were  not  contained  in  the  manuscript  hymn 
collection  in  either  its  first  or  its  second  form,  and  which  must 
therefore  have  been  obtained  from  other  sources. 

We  list  here  the  hymn  writers  of  the  Schwenkf elders  in 
America.  Weiss,  Hoffmann  and  Wagner  wrote  hymns  abroad 
as  well  as  in  this  country. 

George  Weiss,  1687-1740. 

Balthaser  Hoffmann,  1687-1775. 

David  Seibt,  1691-1765. 

Caspar  Kribel,  (?)-i77i. 
Abraham  Wagner,8                             ca.  1715-1763 

Christoph  Schultz,  1718-1789. 

Christoph  Kribel,9  1720-1800. 

Rev.  George  Meschter,  M.  D.  1840. 

The  list  of  hymn  writers  of  the  Saur  edition  includes  the 
following  Schwenkfelders.  We  indicate  also  the  number  of 
hymns  of  each  admitted  to  the  collection:  Adam  Reissner  5, 
Valentin  Triiler  15,  Bernhard  Herxheimer  i,  Daniel  Sudermann 
47,  George  Frell  20,  George  Heydrich  i,  Martin  John  30,  George 


"Physician.    Resided  on  the  farm  now  (1909)  the  home  of  Elwood  W. 
Anders.    Is  buried  in  the  Methatchen  cemetery,  near  Fairview  Village,  Pa. 
•  See  The  Schwenkf eldian,  May  1908. 


106  SCHWENKFELDER    HYMNOLOGY 

Weiss  26,  Balthaser  Hoffmann  38,  David  Seibt  i,  Caspar  Kribel 
7,  Abraham  Wagner  34,  Christoph  Schultz  7,  Christoph  Kribel 
10. 

Numerous  copies  of  the  Schwenkf elder  hymn-book  of  1762 
contain  a  manuscript  appendix  following  the  indexes.  It  is  in 
two  parts.  The  first  part  consists  of  three  biographical  lists.  Of 
these,  the  first  is  a  transcription  of  the  biographical  sketches  con 
tained  in  the  hymn-book  of  the  Bohemian  Brethren  published 
1639 — the  list  to  which  we  have  already  called  attention,  in 
our  description  of  said  hymn-book.  The  second  is  a  similar 
biographical  list  of  the  Schwenkfelder  hymn  writers,  and  the  third 
an  account  of  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed  hymn  writers,  repre 
sented  in  the  new  hymn-book.  The  second  part  of  this  manuscript 
appendix  is  a  complete  alphabetical  list  of  the  authors  of  the 
printed  hymn-book.  In  most  of  the  copies  which  contain  this 
appendix,  the  initials  of  the  authors  are  given  in  manuscript  above 
the  hymns.  These  manuscript  addenda  are  the  work  of  Rev. 
Christopher  Hoffmann,  the  bookbinder  of  the  Schwenkfelders, 
and  are  usually  in  his  handwriting. 

The  following  three  hymns  are  given  as  specimens  of  the 
Schwenkfelder  hymns  written  in  America.  The  author  of  the 
first  hymn  was  Abraham  Wagner.  The  author  of  the  second 
was  Rev.  Balthaser  Hoffmann.  The  last  hymn  is  by  Rev.  George 
K.  Meschter,  M.  D.  It  was  written,  July  1904,  on  the  occasion 
of  the  departure  of  Miss  Flora  Krauss  Heebner  for  her  mission 
ary  work  in  Shansi,  China. 

I. 

Ach,  allerhoechstes  Guth! 
O  liebens-wuerdigs  Wesen ; 
Gott  Vater,  Sohn  und  Geist, 
In  welchem  wir  genesen ; 
Wer  wolt'  nicht  lieben  Dich, 
Und  loben  allezeit? 
Du  bist  das  ewig  Heil, 
Und  all  Vollkommenheit. 


THE    PRINTED    HYMN-BOOK  107 

Gott  Vater!  gross  von  Macht, 
Von  Liebe  und  Erbarmen : 
Gabst  deinen  Sohn  in  Tod, 
Aus  Hebe  zu  tins  Armen. 
Du  Schoepff er  aller  Ding ! 
Wir  ruehmen  deine  Werck: 
Dein  Weiszheit,  Heiligkeit, 
Dein  Gnade,  Krafft  und  Staerck. 

Gott  Sohn,  Herr  Jesu  Christ! 
Aus  Liebe  Mensch  gebohren ; 
Hast  uns  aus  Lieb  erloest, 
Da  wir  waren  verlohren. 
Lob  sey  Dir,  Gottes-Lamm ! 
Unser  Haupt,  Hirt  und  Weid' ! 
Du  bist  dein'm  Vater  gleich, 
In  Macht  und  Herrlichkeit. 

Gott  heil'ger  Geist !    Ein  Gott 
Mit  Vater  und  clem  Sohne, 
Dir  sey  auch  Lob  und  Preisz, 
Von  uns  in  gleichem  Thone : 
Der  Du  uns  heilig  machst, 
Und  unser  Troester  heiss'st, 
Und  uns  den  schmalen  Weg, 
Zum  Leben  fuehr'st  und  weisst. 

O  unbegreiflichs  Gut! 
O  Du  Drey-einigs  Wesen ! 
Ohn  An  fang  und  ohn  End : 
Hilff  uns,  dasz  wir  genesen ; 
Mach  uns  zu  deinem  Lob, 
Stets  wuerdig  und  bereit! 
Dir  sey  Lob,  Preisz,  und  Ehr, 
In  Zeit  und  Ewigkeit. 


108  SCHWENKFELDER    HYMNOLOGY 

II. 

Gebenedeyt  sey  allezeit, 
Gelobet  und  geehret, 
Die  gantze  heilige  Dreyheit, 
Die,  wie  die  Schrifft  tins  lehret, 
Eins  Wesens  ist,  Eine  Gottheit, 
Und  unzertheilte  Einigkeit, 
In  gleicher  Macht  und  Ehren. 

Der  Vater  ist  ein  wahrer  Gott, 

Im  Wesen  zu  bekennen. 

Der  Sohn  Den  Er  gebohren  hat, 

Ist  wahrer  Gott  zu  nennen. 

Desgleichen  der  Heilige  Geist, 

Ein  wahrer  Gott  auch  ist  und  heist: 

Drey  Namen  nur  Ein  Wesen. 

Also  wird  von  dem  Vater,  Gott, 
Gantz  wohl  und  recht  bekennet, 
Dasz  Er  sey  der  gebohren  hat: 
Auch  wird  der  Sohn  genennet, 
Ein  Gott  der  da  gebohren  ist, 
Im  An  fang  vor  ewiger  Frist, 
Gleicher  Natur  und  Wesens. 

Vater  und  Sohn  in  Einigkeit 

Sind  gleicher  Gott  im  Wesen : 

Der  Heil'g  Geist  auch  in  diesen  Beyd, 

Gleicher  Gott  ist  gewesen : 

So  bleibets  auch  zu  ew'ger  Frist: 

Doch  der  wahr'  Gott  nur  Einer  ist, 

Ein  Gott  und  nicht  drey  Goetter. 

Eja,  so  lasst  uns  nun  zugleich, 
Dem  Herren  auch  lobsingen, 
Der  sein  Thron  hat  im  Himmelreich ; 
Lob  und  Danck  vor  Ihn  bringen. 
Lasst  uns  Ihm  froelich  singen  gern, 
Als  ttnsren  Gott  und  Herrn  Ihn  ehr'n, 
Der  hoch  im  Himmel  wohnet. 


THE   PRINTED   HYMN-BOOK  109 

O  Du  wahr  goettliche  Dreyheit, 

Die  anzubeten  wuerdig! 

O  du  heilige  Einigkeit, 

Die  zu  verehren  billig, 

Durch  Dich,  du  wahre  Ewigkeit! 

Sind  wir  geschaffen  in  der  Zeit, 

Als  ein  Werck  deiner  Haende. 

Durch  Dich  sind  wir  erloeset  auch, 
Du  hoechste  Lieb  und  Guete, 
Aus  allem  Leyd  und  Ungemach, 
Wollest  dein  Volck  behueten ; 
Beschuetze  es  und  mach  es  heil, 
Richts  auf,  zu  kommen  zum  Erbtheil, 
Und  mach  es  rein  von  Suenden. 

Herr  Gott!    Der  Du  allmaechtig  bist, 
Dich  wir  ehrn  und  anbeten. 
Wir  singen  Dir  zu  dieser  Frist, 
Mit  Dancken  vor  Dich  tretten : 
Dir  sey  Gloria,  Lob  und  Ehr, 
Von  jetzt  fortan  und  immer  mehr, 
Bisz  in  Ewigkeit,  Amen. 

III. 

My  Saviour,  Lord  of  all, 
I  heard  Thy  loving  call, 

Thy  call  for  me. 
What  wilt  Thou  have  me  do, 
All,  all  life's  journey  through? 
I  consecrate  anew 

My  all  to  Thee. 

"Go,  take  my  bread  and  feed 
My  brethren — those  in  need — 

Nor  let  one  die. 
I  am  with  you  alway," 
I  heard  Thy  dear  voice  say. 
"Thy  word  I  shall  obey", 

Was  my  reply. 


TIO  SCHWENKFELDER    HYMNOLOGY 

Hence  I  shall  leave  those  near, 
My  parents,  brethren  dear, 

And  sail  away. 
Some  day  I  hope  to  meet, 
Some  day  I  hope  to  greet 
All,  at  the  Master's  feet, 

To  stay  for  aye. 


APPENDIX. 
BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

Christian  August  Salig:   Volhtdndige  Historic  der  Augspurg- 

ischen  Confession.    Halle,  1735. 
Johann  Philip  Fresenius:     Bewdhrte  Nachrichten.     Frankfurt, 

I747-5I- 
Erlduterung  fur  Herrn  Caspar  Schwenkfeld  und  die  Zugethanen 

seiner  Lehre.     Jauer,  1771.     Second  edition.     Sumnytaun, 

1830. 

Hermann  Adelbert  Daniel:  Thesaurus  Hymnologicus.  Leip 
zig,  1855-56. 

A.  F.  H.  Schneider :  Zur  Literatur  der  Schwenkfeldischen  Lie- 
derdichter  bis  Daniel  Sudermann.  Berlin,  1857. 

Oswald  Kadelbach :  Ausfuehrliche  Geschichte  Kaspar  von 
Schwenkfelds  und  der  Schwenkfelder.  Lauban,  1860. 

Hoffmann  von  Fallersleben :  Geschichte  des  deutschen  Kir c hen- 
lied  es.  Hannover,  1861. 

Philipp  Wackernagel :  Das  Deutsche  Kirchenlied  von  der  altes- 
ten  Zeit  bis  su  Anfang  des  siebzehnten  Jahrhunderts.  5 
vols.  Leipzig,  1864-77. 

Emil  Koch:  Geschichte  des  Kirchenlieds  und  Kirchengesangs. 
Stuttgart,  1866-76. 

Catherine  Winkworth :  Christian  Singers  of  Germany.  London, 
1869. 

Richard  Bingham:  Hymnologia  Christiana  Latina.  London, 
1871. 

F.  A.  March:  Latin  Hymns,  with  English  Notes.  New  York, 
1875  and  1883. 

A.  F.  W.  Fischer:    Kirchenlieder-Le.i'icon.    Gotha,  1878. 

C.  Heydrick:  The  Schwenkf  elders:  An  Historical  Sketch.  In 
Genealogical  Record  of  the  Descendants  of  the  Schwenk- 
f  elders.  Manayunk,  1879. 

J.  H.  Dubbs :  Early  German  Hymnology  of  Pennsylvania.  In 
Reformed  Quarterly  Review  (1882). 

C.  R.  Hildeburn:  A  Century  of  Printing.  The  Issues  of  the 
Press  in  Pennsylvania,  1685-1784.  Philadelphia,  1885-86. 

J.  E.  Prescott:  Christian  Hymns  and  Hymn  Writers.  Cam 
bridge,  1886. 

VV.  Garrett  Horder :    The  Hymn  Lover.    London,  1889. 

(in) 


1 12  BIBLIOGRAPHY 

S.  W.  Duffield :  The  Latin  Hymn-writers  and  Their  Hymns. 
Edited  and  completed  by  Prof.  R.  E.  Thompson,  D.  D. 
New  York,  1889. 

John  Julian:    A  Dictionary  of  Hymnology.     New  York,  1892. 

O.  Seidensticker:  First  Century  of  German  Printing  in  Amer 
ica.  Philadelphia,  1893. 

J.  Taylor  Hamilton:  Some  Moravian  Hymn  Writers.  (Mora 
vian  Visitor,  Vol.  3,  No.  7.)  Easton,  1896. 

S.  W.  Pennypacker:  The  Settlement  of  Germantown.  Phila 
delphia,  1899. 

M.  D.  Learned :  Historische  Anmerkungen.  In  Americana 
Germanica.  Vol.  II.,  No.  i. 

J.  Taylor  Hamilton  :  History  of  the  Moravian  Church.  Bethle 
hem,  1900. 

H.  W.  Kriebel :  The  Schwenkf elders  in  Pennsylvania.  Lancas 
ter,  1904. 

Corpus  Schwenckfeldianorum.    Volume  I.    Leipzig,  1907. 
Hallcsche  Nachrichten.     (1750  et  seq.) 

^Hitter  filr  Hymnologie. 


AMERICANA    GERMANICA 

NEW    SERIES 
MONOGRAPHS   DEVOTED  TO  THE   COMPARATIVE  STUDY  OF  THE 

Literary,  Linguistic  and  Other  Cultural  Relations  ol 
Germany  and  America 


EDITOR 

MARION  DEXTER  LEARNED 

University  of  Pennsylvania 


CONTRIBUTING  EDITORS 

H.  C.  G.  BRANDT  JULIUS  GOEBEL 

W.  H.  CARPENTER  J.  T.  HATFIELD 

W.  H.  CARRUTH  W.  T.  HEWETT 

HERMANN  COLLITZ  A.  R.  HOHLFELD 

STARR  W.  CUTTING  HUGO  K.  SCHILLING 

DANIEL  K.  DODGE  H.  SCHMIDT- WARTENBERG 

A.  B.  FAUST  HERMANN  SCHOENFELD 

KUNO  FRANCKE  CALVIN  THOMAS 

ADOLPH  GERBER  H.  S.  WHITE 
HENRY  WOOD 


PHILADELPHIA 

AMERICANA  GERMANICA  PRESS 

Berlin  New  York  Leipzig 

MAYER  &  MULLER  CARL  A.  STERN  F.  A.  BROCKHAUS 

London  Paris 

KEGAN,  PAUL,  TRENCH,  TRUBNER  &  CO.,  Ltd.          H.  Le  SOUDIER 


yn    *  rs  /  -,^ 
'  i~>    i  uo  /  ^ 


183119 


